June 4, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
Robert Thalhimer doesn’t want to hear people complaining about how the next generation of givers will not be as generous as the current crop.
The senior vice president for advancement at the Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia, writes on PhilanthroMedia that he has heard that complaint before. And it’s just plain wrong.
“Each generation worries about succeeding generations and the loss of its own,” Mr. Thalhimer writes. “Every time an elder donor passes away or a generous corporation leaves, their beneficiaries see an irreplaceable loss.”
Yet giving continues — always at higher levels than before.
From what he’s already seen from younger adults, Mr. Thalhimer writes that he expects that trend to continue well into the future.
“The younger generations seem to have gained a greater sense of philanthropy that we have given them credit for. Many inheritors of wealth are turning into great givers,” he writes. “And, there is a boom in new wealth creation due to a vibrant world economy. Many entrepreneurs seem to be using their wealth for social good.”
Is that assessment true — or will philanthropy face a crisis when the baby- boom generation dies off? Click on the comments link below this post to share your thoughts.
