President's Letter

For the past twenty years, the core business of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies has been to facilitate connections between young adults and their communities. From our experiences in Canada, Israel and the United States, we are learning that the prevailing views of established inter-generational efforts often bear no relationship to on the ground realities and perceptions of young people. Through much research into the attitudes and behaviors of 18-25 year olds, we have sought to develop a better understanding of the next generation and a methodology that informs our initiatives and grantmaking.

We live in changing times, which call for innovation, experimentation and partnerships with greater diversity and multiple generations engaging around our communal tables. Old approaches, however, are often no longer working, as identity and community are expressed differently for younger audiences. Therefore, as the paradigm shifts, it is to our benefit to try new approaches that engage the next generations in our communities.

Having taken the initial risk on a number of new initiatives that promote youth and civic engagement, we are pleased to launch a new division of ACBP, 21/64: Strategic Philanthropy Through the Generations, and this quarterly newsletter to communicate with you about what we have learned through our research and practice. We hope this year’s newsletters catalyze your thinking, allow you to frame your own questions about engaging the next generation, and inspire you to act upon them. We would love to hear what you think and to learn together.

Best Regards,
Jeffrey R. Solomon, PhD