Letter from the Chair
Volunteering and civic engagement are important ways people express their generosity. Giving time, care, expertise and attention are very often at the heart of our deepest connections to each other.
Historical trends show that volunteer engagement hit a 10-year low in 2015, and that the demographics of participation and engagement are changing. We also know that how people define these terms for themselves may be different than how organizations and systems capture and report them.
As part of its work, the Generosity Commission will explore why these changes and declines are happening and understand the implications on organizations and communities. Through research and a national conversation, we will learn whether current definitions are capturing all that is happening, and, how we can strengthen, encourage and grow volunteerism and civic engagement as a charitable act and as a path to personal and community wellbeing, economic opportunity and community cohesion.
Understanding the current landscape with an eye towards the future is one important step in reimagining and reinvigorating generosity in all its forms.
Thanks for your interest in the work of the Commission. You can learn more at The Generosity Commission website.
With warmest regards,
Ted Grossnickle
Chair, Working Committee
The Generosity Commission
Member Profile
Natalye Paquin
President and Chief Executive Officer, Points of Light
About Natalye:
Natalye is the president and chief executive officer of Points of Light. She is a visionary and results-oriented leader with a strong track record of performance and transformation in turnaround and high-paced organizations. Prior to joining Points of Light in 2017, Natalye served as chief transformation officer at Girl Scouts of the USA and as chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, and began her career in the nonprofit sector as chief operating officer of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. An attorney by training, Natalye spent more than 15 years in the education sector in legal and executive leadership roles, first as a civil rights attorney with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, and with two of the nation’s largest school districts, Chicago Public Schools and the School District of Philadelphia.
In Natalye’s words:
Why is the work of the Generosity Commission so crucial?
Given the strong connection between volunteering and giving, it is crucial for the Generosity Commission to work across sectors to understand why people choose to donate their money and time to causes they believe in. Amid signs of trouble with current downward trends in both charitable giving and volunteering, there is an enormous amount of hope. We are at a turning point where we can learn from and share the trends affecting giving and volunteering in America to support and accelerate positive change in communities.
“We are at a turning point where we can learn from and share the trends affecting giving and volunteering in America to support and accelerate positive change in communities.” – Natalye Paquin, Points of Light
Current Insights on Generosity
NY Times Highlights Importance of Mutual Aid One Year Into Pandemic
Part of a series reflecting on life one year into the coronavirus pandemic, this New York Times opinion piece highlights the importance and inherent generosity of mutual aid and how it benefits the full community. Read more: NY Times: The Coronavirus and a Summer of Mutual Aid
Do Good Institute Provides Insight Into Generosity Trends in Times of Crises
The long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on generosity is still unknown, but a 2020 research report by the Do Good Institute provides insight into the trends of charitable activity and civic engagement following previous crises. Read More: Do Good Institute: Community in Crisis: A Look at Charitable Activity and Civic Engagement
IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to Host Webinar
Join Dr. Una Osili, associate dean for research and international programs at the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and Natalye Paquin, president and CEO of Points of Light, on April 7 for a webinar about volunteering and building community during a crisis. Learn more and register: Webinar: Volunteering and Building Community During a Crisis
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