What is the Future of Social Impact? Ask a Millennial.

Last month I had the pleasure of attending MCON, a conference sponsored by the Case Foundation in Chicago with the purpose of convening the next generation of cause activists and business leaders. I felt like I was revisiting Woodstock. The fashion may have been different but the energy was all too familiar. The depth of passion, commitment and eagerness of the attendees – mostly Millennials – to improve our world was inspiring. There were so many amazing young people who want live a complete life of purpose, going beyond conventional charity to embrace authenticity across their work and personal lives.

If you’re currently between the ages of 18 and 34, you’re considered a Millennial. Much has been written about this group, and they are often generalized as either a mysterious “holy grail” of an audience that every nonprofit needs to engage, or as an impatient bunch eager for their next promotion to be handed to them. My experiences at MCON painted a very different picture.

MCON speakers were young entrepreneurs and change-makers. Photo by Jonathan Frey, courtesy of Achieve.

Research shared at the conference showed that 84% of Millennial employees gave a charitable donation in 2014, but I also learned that they want to do work that matters. Millennials don’t want to separate work from giving in their personal life – they want their work to be purposeful and aligned with their values. This holistic approach is long overdue, and we owe credit to the courage of this generation for living the philosophy.

As the largest generation in the U.S. work force, work satisfaction is crucial to Millennials. In my experience, they have more drive and zeal for doing their job well, and they are less likely to work somewhere they find intolerable. This is a good thing, because the output will be of a higher quality if employees are happy to be there. As a business owner, I hire people with an entrepreneurial spirit and encourage them to pursue their passions within the agency, which helps us grow in expertise and innovation.

As a society, we must encourage the confidence and optimism of this unique generation. We should nurture the Millennial desire for authenticity across their lives, in addition to encouraging transparency, inclusivity and positive impact within our businesses. I prefer to focus on what our generations have in common instead of the stereotypical differences that too often divide us. Let’s invite our Millennial employees into the conversation early and trust their leadership.

As for MCON 2016, how about Los Angeles?