Philanthropy and the Great Recession: A Study of Three Generations

The United States relies on philanthropic practices to support nonprofit organizations who provide services to needy populations. Scholars studying altruism within the realm of philanthropy have recently focused on understanding if there are generational differences in giving (Rotolo and Wilson 2004, Zech 2000). Building on this research, this study examines philanthropic practices before and after the Great Recession, determining if this recession had an effect on the giving practices of three distinct generations: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. The results suggest the effects of the Great Recession were mediated by type of giving. Baby Boomers report donating more frequently, while volunteering reports are split: before the Great Recession, Millennials reported volunteering more frequently, but after, Generation X had higher volunteering reports. These findings suggest that the Great Recession affected philanthropy by shaping how much time and money people had available for charitable giving