As the year comes an end, my thoughts turn to philanthropy. Although historic tax incentives that previously fueled year-end giving are disappearing, your gifts are appreciated and needed at the Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.
Philanthropy is often defined as “voluntary action for public good.” This does not necessarily mean a monetary gift but includes many other kinds of contributions. Where nonprofits get stuck in their assumptions is that only large monetary donations from established donors enable them to work toward their mission. However, those assumptions are far from the truth. Small gifts from many donors over a long period of time do matter. We are proud of every gift, big or small, that we receive. They empower us to fund our research and remain committed to our mission. Last year alone we had nearly 3,000 donors.
A common misconception is that Millennials are disengaged. Untrue! The future is bright. Millennials just have more consumer-modeled giving habits motivated less by general legacy to an organization and more by mission, transparency and impact. They want to survey the market and actively choose organizations that align with their core values. Millennials are inclined to give in these top three categories: education, healthcare and the economy.
Diversity is one of the founding tenants of the Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, and our donors reflect these values. Dispelling false beliefs such as small donations don’t matter and Millennials are disengaged is important. Dr. Love is a myth buster, and you wouldn’t expect anything less!
