Engaging Every Generation: Evolving Your Message, Method, and Medium
November 10, 2025
Hosted by Myriad USA, the webinar Engaging Every Generation: Evolving Your Message, Method, and Medium explores how to tailor your messaging, communication channels, and engagement tactics to resonate with Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers.
Key Giving Trends Across Generations and What They Mean for Your Fundraising Strategy
Older generations—Silent Generation and Boomers—value loyalty and personal relationships, making in-person visits, phone calls, and handwritten notes highly effective. Millennials and Gen Z prioritize transparency, measurable impact, and digital authenticity, often verifying nonprofit credibility through social media. Aligning your approach with these preferences ensures stronger engagement and retention.
How Generational Values and Motivations Differ and How to Align Your Messaging Accordingly
Silent Gen and Boomers respond to trust-based, legacy-focused messaging. Millennials and Gen Z want proof of impact, inclusivity, and ethical practices. Use storytelling that reflects diverse perspectives and emphasizes social justice themes to resonate with younger donors while maintaining traditional trust-building for older ones.
Explore Engagement Tactics to Resonate with Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers and Strengthen Your Future Donor Pipeline
- Silent Gen & Boomers: Face-to-face meetings, phone calls, and planned giving conversations.
- Gen X: Email and direct mail combined with digital updates.
- Millennials & Gen Z: Social media campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising, authentic video storytelling, and even snail mail for a personal touch.
What’s Consistent and What Varies in Donor Behavior Across Age Groups
- Consistency: All generations value gratitude and transparency. Prompt thank-yous—within 24 hours—boost retention rates from 40% to over 60%.
- Variation: Preferred channels differ—older donors lean toward traditional methods, while younger donors expect digital engagement and quick responses.
Common Myths About Generational Giving—Debunked
- Myth: Younger generations don’t give.
- Reality: Millennials and Gen Z actively give through time, talent, and networks, and increasingly contribute financially. They also engage deeply in advocacy and volunteerism, making them critical to long-term donor pipelines.
Smart Segmentation and Donor Journey Mapping to Reach Each Generation More Effectively
Collect birth years and communication preferences to segment campaigns accurately. Use CRM tools to track engagement and personalize outreach. Map donor journeys by generation—major gift strategies for older donors, digital-first campaigns for younger ones—and integrate inclusive storytelling to make every donor feel seen.
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Moderated by Dr. Holly Hull Miori, PhD, CFRE, Author of Millennial Philanthropy: Next Generation Fund Development for Professionals and Nonprofits, the session featured expertise from Guirlaine R. Belizaire, Vice President, Innovation, Development Guild, and Nikkii Kashub, Director of Donor Management Solutions, Momentive Software.
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This webinar is part of the Myriad USA series on Sharing Best Practices in Fundraising, designed to help nonprofit professionals worldwide enhance their fundraising practices and strategies. With Myriad USA, donors can count on a knowledgeable, one-stop shop for all their international giving, regardless of geographic location. We also provide foreign nonprofits with cost-effective solutions to mobilize resources in the United States. Discover our services at myriadusa.org/services/.
Speakers
Dr. Holly Hull Miori has more than twenty-year career in fundraising and foundation work, where she has raised funds both locally and nationally in higher education, healthcare, arts and human rights and Holocaust education. She serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor, Development and Chief Development Officer at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Holly earned a bachelor’s degree in both religion and communication arts from Austin College in Sherman, TX and received her master’s in theological studies from Brite Divinity School at TCU. She also holds a Master’s in Public Affairs from UT Dallas and completed her PhD in public affairs in 2021 where she focused on millennial philanthropy. She also focuses her research on trends in philanthropy including faith-based fundraising, family foundations, parachurches (nonprofits birthed out of churches), conscious capitalism, and government and national relationships. She has held her CFRE since 2013. Holly gives back by serving as an advisory board member for Paper for Water and past president of AWARE Dallas, a fund at The Dallas Foundation. Holly was awarded the PhD fellowship by ARNOVA in 2020 and has served as an instructor for the graduate fundraising course Resource Development for UT Dallas and LSU Shreveport. She is a past fellow of the Lake Institute at Lilly School of Philanthropy. She is co-owner of CTD Initiative, LLC with her husband Michael. Holly published her book Millennial Philanthropy: Next Generation Fund Development for Professionals and Nonprofits with Palgrave Springer which can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart.com and local retailers.
Before joining Development Guild, Guirlaine held key fundraising positions (in donor relations, special events, major gifts, and database management) at several nonprofit and educational organizations, including Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, Cambridge in America (which promotes in the United States interest in and support for the University of Cambridge, England), UNICEF USA, and the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.
At Development Guild, in addition to her responsibilities as an executive search and fundraising consultant, Guirlaine serves as a moderator for BIG Question—a live, community-powered planning tool created by Development Guild. Harnessing her facilitation skills, data-driven mindset, and gift for making every voice feel heard, on BIG Question, she guides mission-driven organizations through their most complex strategic and fundraising challenges, translating collective insights into clear, actionable next steps.
Guirlaine also heads Development Guild’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program, thoughtfully crafting company-wide learning experiences and providing the human resources department with ongoing guidance to ensure the culture and policies remain equitable and inclusive.
She is a committed member of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC).
Guirlaine received a Master of Arts in Biology from Hofstra University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in molecular genetics from the University of Rochester.
Nikkii Kashub is one of GiveSmart Donor CRM's co-founders and has served the nonprofit community for over 19 years. Her first taste of fundraising was in 2006 when she developed a philanthropic committee among friends to raise funds for Alex's Lemonade Stand and the National Kidney Foundation. In 2010, Nikkii combined her love of philanthropy with her background in computer science to start a career in the donor management software industry helping non-profit organizations save time while raising more money. Nikkii volunteers regularly for the local homeless shelter and spends time teaching small business marketing strategies to women entrepreneurs in her community.