As a counteract to holiday spending experienced on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we usher in this year’s giving season with #GivingTuesday and National Philanthropy Day celebrated locally on Nov. 27. Financial support is one way to support local nonprofits, but giving also includes donating time, talent and influence to help further an organization’s mission.
One group that’s likely to get behind social causes are millennials. As the nation’s largest living adult generation (born between 1981 and 1996, according to the U.S. Census Bureau) and the largest generation in the labor force, trends show that millennials are creating more engaged, hands-on relationships with nonprofits in order to create better impact. That includes leveraging their social networks for causes they believe in.
There’s plenty of young professional groups in Charlotte where volunteers can “do good” while increasing their personal and professional development. Most have options to pay membership dues (if applicable) in annual or monthly installments. Here are seven young professional groups worth considering.
Young Donor Society – Arts & Science Council (ASC)
Young Donor Society members assist the ASC’s mission to ensure access to an excellent, relevant and sustainable cultural community for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region. The annual gift of $500 helps fund, in part, many of your favorite local, cultural organizations as well as cultural events and projects. YDS members also join others advocating for the arts to legislators.
Young Ambassadors Group – Council for Children’s Rights
The Council for Children’s Rights is Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s leading advocate for children, safeguarding every child’s right to be safe, healthy and educated. The Young Ambassadors Group supports the Council through a variety of social, volunteer and fundraising activities.
Habitat Young Professionals – Habitat for Humanity
These proponents of affordable housing are combating poverty by helping to build affordable housing for low-income families. You can join the Habitat Young Professionals each month for their Second Saturday Builds. Membership dues are $85, which supports Charlotte’s affordable housing initiatives.
Young Professionals Network – Safe Alliance
Safe Alliance’s Young Professional Network engages young professionals to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault. The $240 annual dues help the nonprofit continue to serve 10,000 people each year throughout Mecklenburg County and Lake Norman.
Young Leaders – United Way of Central Carolinas
Whether it’s the needs of an entire neighborhood or the needs of a single family, Young Leaders advocate for the health and well-being of Charlotte-area families through collaborative philanthropy and volunteerism. A minimum annual contribution of $250 goes toward the organization’s initiatives related to health care, mental health, nutrition and fitness.
Young Professionals Auxiliary – Urban League of Central Carolinas (ULCC)
The Urban League of Central Carolinas’ Young Professionals Auxiliary is a training ground for those supporting the agency’s efforts to promote financial stability and racial inclusion. Members’ $50 annual contributions expand ULCC’s impact on education, training and placement, where they’ve successfully achieved an 85 percent job placement rate in adult programs.
Urbanites – Urban Ministry Center
Urbanites are raising awareness about the Urban Ministry Center and the ways it’s fighting conditions affecting homelessness. Young professionals get a firsthand look at the organization’s impact through volunteer activities like soup kitchen service, which is held on the fourth Sunday of every month (except November and December).
Katrina Louis is managing editor of qcitymetro.com who can always find something to do in Charlotte. She’s an offline hustler (and has the shirt to prove it) but when online, find her on Instagram and Twitter.
