While nonprofit organizations have gotten used to viewing Generation Z as the "next generation of donors," recent data presented by The NonProfit Times, based on joint research from GoFundMe and GivingTuesday Data Commons, reveals that this generation does not wait to reach peak financial capability to start giving; instead, they are already practicing it, but in different forms: digital, social, public, and relationship-based rather than traditional institutional loyalty.

This translated article offers an intriguing perspective on the early charitable behavior of Generation Z and raises an important question for nonprofit organizations: Are we still waiting for this generation as the audience of the future while it is already participating in shaping the culture of giving today? This treatment preserves the literary rights of the author and the original source, and is within an academic context aimed at enriching the understanding of professionals in the nonprofit sector regarding the transformations in donation and engagement in new digital environments.

Generation Z members participate in charity at higher rates than older adults and may be the next generation in a series of younger generations that charities have been waiting to mature into the stage where they saw their parents engage in giving.

New research from GoFundMe and GivingTuesday Data Commons shows that Generation Z’s giving is rooted in personal relationships and social connections, and the cause often comes secondary to the relationship as they support causes through participation, donations, advocacy, and community fundraising, often in visible digital forms that inspire their peers to give as well.

Essentially, this can be described as the early stages of generosity among adults aged 18 to 29, with sample sizes differing between Generation Z and older adults; the sample comprised 1,990 Generation Z individuals compared to 8,421 adults aged 30 to 85.

The data indicates that organizations need to design experiences that capture Generation Z's existing engagement and build upon it, with clear pathways toward future financial giving, and when these experiences are well-designed, they translate momentary intention into action, building a foundation for deeper and more sustainable support over time.

This necessitates a rethinking of the role of digital environments that connect nonprofits with Generation Z; these platforms should not only handle donations but also serve as vibrant spaces for engagement, supporting the way Generation Z interacts through different channels, forms, and behaviors, and evolving with them over time.

Tim Cadogan, CEO of GoFundMe, states that Generation Z demonstrates that generosity does not begin with financial capability alone, but it starts from engagement, trust, relationships, and a willingness to make support visible. He added that these findings confirm that Generation Z is not merely a future donor segment; they are reshaping giving today in social, public, and digital ways.

This presents a clear call to action for nonprofit organizations: to build their experiences according to the ways that Generation Z actually interacts, by facilitating issue engagement, mobilizing communities, fundraising, and giving within digital spaces, and organizations that embrace these behaviors now will be better positioned to transform Generation Z's engagement into long-term support and growth.

Key findings of the report indicate that Generation Z gives in ways at higher rates than other adults, with over 70% of Generation Z individuals reporting that they engaged in some form of giving during the week prior to the survey, compared to 65% of other adults. They were also more likely to give money, despite being in a life stage where their incomes are likely lower, or they are students or unemployed.

This generation’s giving is clearly personal and relational, with Generation Z outpacing other adults in advocacy, direct giving to individuals, informal giving, and volunteering. They give where the need appears personal, immediate, and human.

Trust for this generation is increasingly built through close networks, as nearly 60% of Generation Z supporters say that family or others influence their giving decisions, compared to about 45% of other adults. This makes community fundraising campaigns particularly poised for this moment, as a natural entry point into giving and an important pathway to supporting nonprofits.

Public engagement acts as a multiplier for generosity, and Generation Z is more likely than other adults to show support and advocacy for community groups, nonprofits, and independent efforts. They inspire others not only by making this support visible but also by helping to increase the funds raised.

On the other hand, community-driven fundraising platforms act as gateways to giving for nonprofit organizations, and users of online fundraising platforms from Generation Z are more likely to donate to registered organizations compared to their peers who do not use these platforms.

For this generation, community fundraising and peer-driven giving are often the first step toward broader charitable participation. Instead of diverting support away from nonprofits, these platforms seem to expand engagement in charitable giving overall.

Several points in the data contradicted what many in the sector believed; Steve Froehlich, Chief Customer Growth Officer at GoFundMe, noted in this regard that there has long been an assumption that Generation Z voices their opinions loudly regarding the causes they care about, but this advocacy does not always translate into actual giving.

However, what is striking in the data, according to him, is that this assumption is incorrect, and Generation Z is indeed giving, and they do so in ways that reflect how they engage with the world: digitally, socially, and often in response to moments that feel personal, urgent, or connected to their communities.

The findings collectively paint a picture of a generation that already holds a greater impact than its size in how giving spreads, evolves, and accumulates its effect over time.

Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday, stated that what this study reveals is that giving is becoming more community-oriented, and Generation Z intuitively understands this as they give in visible, relational, and multi-dimensional ways. She added that they are not just the donors or leaders of the future, but they are also contributing now to shaping a culture of generosity, and what is needed is to meet them where they are, and build the structures and support that respect what they are already doing; because this is how the movement of generosity grows.

The analysis is based on GivingPulse surveys from GivingTuesday, a weekly study tracking giving behaviors, conducted by GivingTuesday Data Commons, with insights and implications developed in collaboration with GoFundMe.

The report examines the giving behaviors of adults aged 18 to 29 compared to adults aged 30 to 85, relying on data collected between January 1, 2025, and January 11, 2026, from a total sample of 10,411 participants from the United States.

Generation Z is no longer a delayed audience waiting for organizations to mature financially; instead, they are a present audience quickly testing trust, engaging with human closeness, and moving giving from the category of “silent donation” to the space of visible participation. Hence, the most important question is not: When will this generation give? But rather: Have organizations designed smart ways that accommodate their giving methods?

This non-exclusive translation, preserving literary rights of the author and the original source, opens an important window for understanding a generation that does not begin its relationship with philanthropy solely from money, but from trust, storytelling, network, and ease of participation, and every organization that recognizes this early will be closer to building a deeper relationship with tomorrow's donors and today's impact-makers.