For three years straight, the Millennial Impact Report has confirmed that the number one way the generation born between 1979 and 1994 is accessing your nonprofit website or social media site is via their smartphone; this year a whopping 83%.

I dare you to use your smartphone (or your children’s smartphone) to take a look at your website.  Pretend for the moment that you do not know anything about your nonprofit as you look at your website. Ask yourself these questions,

• Where am I?
• What impact does this organization make?
• What does this organization want me to do?

If you answered “I don’t know” to any of the above questions, you have a lot of work to do to engage this generation.

Think “Mobile First”!

• Simplify your message so that viewers understand your mission immediately
• Make text readable for a mobile device
• Include more, or an equal amount of, graphics than text
• Make a Call to Action: sign a petition, learn more, share, give

If you hear your own voice, or any other voice, saying “We don’t have the staff or the budget” forbid them from ever uttering those words again and take one or all of the below actions.

• Exist with fewer web pages
• Enroll Millennial volunteers to provide feedback and suggestions on flow and content
• Enroll Millennial volunteers pro-bono services to assist in website content enhancement
• Budget for improvements to your website
• Deploy an appeal specifically to bolster the content and accessibility of your website that facilitates and communicates your cause

This may require a complete change in perspective from a traditional Public Relations vantage point to that of the visitor. Know that Millennials are impulsive and want to know the impact their action will have on people served or the cause. Equally important, they will share that action with their social network. It is up to you to make sure that impact is positive and in turn your Millennial visitor will ensure it is exponential.

Please join us on Thursday, October 16, 2014 from 2:00-3:00 PM Eastern Time as Jeron Comeau › from Soft Trac presents Millennials Impact on Philanthropy: Connect, Involve, Evolve.

Soft Trac is a woman-owned business and accomplished team of nonprofit software consultants.  We believe in making nonprofits "do good" better.