1. (Easy one) Baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) continue their exodus into "retirement" (whatever that means, survivors of the Great Recession; all we really know is that the number of Boomers leaving the workforce is massive).
Baby Boomers will then assume, with superhuman strength and grace, their predestined place as the greatest philanthropic generation ever born.
Stand amazed, charities.
The advent of Baby Boomer donors could be bigger than global warming.
Of course, it kind of depends on you, the charities, how important these donors become.
And early warning? So far, the signs aren't that good. Seemingly "professional" 21st-century charities still debate (pound your softest head without helmet on something unforgivably hard) the merits of "donor-centricity" ... a bright idea that commercial marketers adopted back in the 1950s, to their great profit.
Is it wrong to say that charities are behind the times and the worst salespeople on earth? (Yet proud of it.)
No, it's not wrong. It is an observable phenomenon. It's rewarded in fact, apparently. Worst practice in donor communications is FAR more common than best practice, I promise you. I've evaluated hundreds, probably thousands, of attempts. My grand conclusion: charities commonly leave mountains of money on the table, thanks to ignorant minor errors, all easily corrected. If they only knew better. They don't, by and large.