Generation BIG

People who volunteer time to charities donate on average 10-times more money to charity than people who don’t volunteer, according to a new study The lesson: Engaging volunteers should be a strategic priority if you want your organization to become BIG or get BIGger. Here are some of the key findings from the study, released [...]

In Chapter 10 of the Generation BIG book, we note that “Every BIG person in this book dared to dream and chose to act. That is the essence of the BIG journey — dreams to action.” I just read a great blog post by social media advisor Chris Brogan that frames dreams to action as “Tiny Revolutions. He writes, “Every step towards success requires a tiny revolution. Evolution is too subtle. Revolution is too drastic. In between, let’s add ‘tiny revolutions.’”

Inspired people are reinventing themselves for a new era. They represent the rising tide of people who are determined to achieve their dreams and make a difference in the world. They are Bold, Innovative and Generous. They are Generation BIG.

To survive and thrive in the 21st century, you have to connect with bold, innovative, and generous people who are passionate about what you do, who will engage with your cause. You have to have BIG vision.

Can the nonprofit world handle a flood of helpers? That’s the question posed by The Chronicle of Philanthropy in the headline of its lead story (Oct. 15, 2009 edition). The article’s premise: More and more people are seeking opportunities to volunteer with charities, but the charities may not be ready, have the desire or the ability to engage them.

BIG TIP: Always focus on how you can spread passion for your cause. If you do this, the money and the donors will follow. There is no greater calling than to share one’s passion about a meaningful cause. Too many many non-profits fail to spread passion. They spend so much time soliciting transactions that they forget the big picture.

Generation BIG is generating lots of buzz! Here’s a list of just some of the media that have included news about Generation BIG in their pages or broadcasts over the last few months:

Pat O’Connor’s Little Fenway is a one-quarter scale replica of the Boston Red Sox stadium where more than $750,000 has been raised to help spinal cord injury survivors and to fund research into a cure. O’Connor’s field of dreams reflects his BIG passion, a passion that has spread far and wide.

He won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore and national championships as a freshman and a junior. But if you ask University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, now a senior, to discuss what motivates him he talks about his faith and orphans in the Philippines. The New York Times published a great article about Tebow [...]

The following is an excerpt from Chapter 10 of our new book, “Generation BIG – The Rising Tide of Dreams to Action.” In the book, we profile several bold, innovative, and generous (BIG) people, and then we offer you guidance to help you on your BIG journey. Every BIG person in this book dared to [...]