Some of Hawaii’s biggest nonprofits are using a new way to fundraise and groom future leaders — youth boards. Pacific Business News Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more.
Millennials aged 18 to 34 this year became the largest share of the U.S. workforce. It’s definitely a group businesses and non-profits alike want to tap into as both customers and future leaders. Our reporter Eleni Gill spoke with four non-profits that have taken as interesting approach – they’ve created youth boards, in parallel to their regular boards.
Aloha United Way for example – A 72-member “society of young leaders” has, since 2007, raised more than $280,000 and contributed nearly 26,000 hours of volunteer work. The “SYL”, formed a decade ago, was one of the first such auxiliary groups formed in Hawaii.
The Chamber of Commerce – Hawaii’s “Young Professionals” group is just four years old, but already had more than 200 members. They benefit from networking with each other from a series of events at which they get some mentoring from established business leaders. They also get a say in the chambers evolution – The head of the Young Professionals Group also sits on the chambers regular board.
At Hawaii Opera Theatre, A new 10-Member advisory board of young executives, called “Gen-Hot”, helps extend the nonprofits marketing to a new generation of opera fans. It also supports the organization financially with a $500 a year commitment and the creation of new events.
These and other non-profits we spoke to say they’re also benefiting from the digital-native savvy of these younger members.
