1. Ad hoc, citizen; personally driven efforts that improve the communities in which one lives
2. Example: helping your neighbour with errands, planting flowers in your cul-de-sac, shoveling snow

1. Volunteering of time and energy to organizations with mandates focused in areas in which one cares
2. Examples: coaching the local soccer team, distributing blankets at a local shelter, giving time to the local food bank to stock shelves, participating in a local run for charity, etc.

1. The donation of one’s knowledge, skill and experience to organized community building efforts to multiply the value creation towards their mandate
2. Examples: building a marketing program and web strategy; designing the financial governance and accountability processes, creating the governance and legal framework, sitting on a board, advising the executive director and board on strategic planning, etc.

1. Financial donations made to causes which one believes in, either one-time, ongoing or through endowments

The next generation of volunteers consists primarily of Knowledge Philanthropists. They want to lead projects, develop strategies and solve complex problems. They are not categorized by age; only by the vast array of skills and professional experience they bring to our organizations. They are young professionals looking to balance their lives with meaningful work. They are baby boomers looking for their next challenge. They are teachers, lawyers, accountants, writers, database architects and website gurus. They are the same only in that they are people with talent, compelled by the mission of not-for-profit organizations, and they want to lend their skills and expertise to causes. They want to connect and they want to be aware of the difference they are making. They seek project-based, time-specific roles, and they are attracted to strong organizations offering meaningful opportunities. A few examples: Legal Beagle, Technology Wizard, Viral Marketing Specialist, Policy Expert, Money Maverick.
Often leaders of not-for-profit organizations will say things like “we don’t have enough money” or “we can’t find any volunteers”.

A people-first approach argues: There will never be enough money. However, there are plenty of people—talented people who want to be involved and people who are passionate about our causes. In most cases, we (leaders of not-for-profit organizations) haven’t done enough strategic thinking about how best to involve these people in moving our organizations forward..