January 1, 2011, is 100 days away. If you haven't been counting, now is a good time to start. There are now 100 days until the first Baby Boomers turn 65. And starting that day, the Boomers just keep pouring into 65-hood every single day for the next 18 years.
This is a big deal for us.
While giving behavior typically starts to manifest meaningfully in the 50s, it really takes off around age 65. By all ways of measuring giving, the 65+ crowd are the champions. They give more, give more often, and are significantly more loyal to the organizations they support. When you have 65+ donors, you have the mother lode.
That's why January 1, 2011 is an important day for fundraisers. The good news: There are going to be more 65-and-up people than ever in the history of the world. The not-so-good news: These Boomers show some different behaviors and preferences than older generations. We'd better figure them out!
And say happy birthday to those leading-edge 65-year-old Boomers on January first!
