In this energizing and highly practical episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., welcomes Lisa Hacker, Director of Philanthropic Planning for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, for a thoughtful and forward-looking conversation about fundraising with millennials and Gen Z. The episode begins by challenging one of the sector’s most outdated assumptions: millennials are no longer merely “the next generation” of donors, they are already here, already giving, and increasingly shaping the future of philanthropy. Lisa explains that her organization began preparing for this shift nearly two decades ago, recognizing both a transfer of wealth and the importance of building donor relationships long before individuals reach their peak earning years. Bill reinforces that point with research showing that while boomers still give the most per household, millennials have already surpassed their parents in average annual household giving, a striking reminder that fundraisers must stop thinking of younger donors as a future audience and start engaging them as a present reality.

What makes the conversation especially useful is how clearly Bill and Lisa separate what remains timeless in fundraising from what truly needs to evolve. The essentials, mission, impact, transparency, trust, and long-term relationship building, remain unchanged. Lisa emphasizes that donors of every generation still want to see meaningful outcomes, hear compelling stories, and understand how their gifts make a difference. What is changing, however, is the way younger generations prefer to engage. Millennials, in particular, are drawn to social media, peer-to-peer influence, and opportunities to document and share their own experiences rather than simply consume polished institutional messaging. As Bill notes, they do not just want to receive the organization’s photos, they want to take the selfies and “usies” themselves. Lisa offers a vivid example through Cincinnati’s ATID program, a cohort-based leadership and philanthropy initiative for emerging Jewish leaders, where participants meet monthly for values-based learning, relationship building, and candid conversations about community responsibility. The program’s success is measured not only in increased giving, but in something deeper: participants continued gathering even after the formal cohort ended, a strong sign that the experience created genuine ownership and connection.

As the episode concludes, the focus broadens from millennials to the wider pipeline of next-generation philanthropy, including Gen Z, and this is where the discussion becomes especially valuable for practitioners thinking long term. Lisa describes how the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati is building a sequence of engagement opportunities, from early social and educational entry points to more structured leadership development, helping younger adults find their place in community life before asking them to shoulder major philanthropic responsibility. Bill draws out the larger lesson beautifully: engaging younger donors is not about mastering slang, chasing trends, or pretending to be someone you are not. It is about listening, inviting participation, and treating donors as collaborators rather than transactions. Lisa’s advice to veteran fundraisers is especially strong and reassuring, have fun with it, bring younger colleagues into the conversation, and do not be afraid to ask questions. The episode leaves listeners with an encouraging and deeply practical message: successful next-generation fundraising is not about abandoning proven principles, but about applying them with openness, curiosity, and the humility to let younger donors help shape what comes next.