Retiree Engagement: Untapped Potential for Your CSR and Giving Priorities

The “Longevity Bonus” continues to drive a surge in giving from retirees in the U.S. Fueled by aging Boomers entering retirement and living longer, the Longevity Bonus is estimated to represent $8 trillion in potential philanthropic impact over two decades (2015-2035).   

With skills, savings and more time to contribute, retirees offer huge potential to your philanthropic giving and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, but they are often untapped. Although retirees account for less than a third (31%) of the adult U.S. population (age 25+), they contribute 42% of dollars given to charity and nearly half (45%) of total volunteer hours. 

While working, retirees participated in workplace giving and CSR initiatives to support their community – this often fosters shared values and trust in their employer that remains once they move into retirement. Many retirees want to stay connected to colleagues and causes they care about, but they lack a means to stay in touch.  

Engage your retirees through giving campaigns and volunteer events. As established leaders and champions of your company’s values, retirees are great resources for supporting your campaign efforts. Consider these three tactics for engaging (or reengaging) retirees: 

Share skills: After years of honing skills, retirees can offer unique expertise to nonprofits working on issues they care about. Share volunteer, particularly skills-based volunteer, opportunities with retirees to give them a chance to give back in a meaningful way.  

Be a Leader: Retirees are trusted partners for a company. They are familiar with the programs and have experienced the campaign process. Engage retirees as “ambassadors” to help mobilize employees and stakeholder networks around the company’s strategic philanthropic and CSR programs.

Champion Causes: Retirees have spent their career building networks that can be leveraged to help raise awareness and mobilize support for CSR initiatives and causes. Offer retirees opportunities to contribute early to a giving campaign as a pacesetter and lead fundraising teams to reach giving goals.

Contact our team to learn more about engagement strategies and tools for getting your retirees engaged in your workplace giving and CSR programs.