Generation Y often gets a bad rap for being lazy, self-involved, technologically-dependent and immature… but what else can you expect from an age group who grew up owning iPods as commonly as shoes and maintaining friendships with the click of a button? Well one thing you can expect is a new generation of donors; it’s just a matter of properly luring these kiddies into choosing your cause (no candy involved.) With these 10 tips, non-profits will surely up their chance in securing Millenials as donors, and maybe help change the generation’s reputation from being apathetic to altruistic.

1. Be technologically advanced

Especially when it comes to donating, such as making donations through emailing, texting or online fundraising available. However, you can still try to appeal to them on the phone or through regular snail mail. Just keep in mind that Generation Y is all about technological instant gratification.

2. Establish your non-profit on websites like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

This will allow for possible Gen. Yers to learn about your organization on the websites they visit the most. This will also be a good advertising technique so that their friends can see what they’re interested in, since these websites are meant for social networking.

3. Lay out the facts and information about your organization as simply and pointedly as possible.

While Generation Yers are not dumb—they are the A.D.D. (Attention Deficient Disorder) generation, and their attention is easily lost. Be brief and to the point in order to grab their attention.

4. Encourage donors to spread the word.

Generation Y will more seriously consider your organization if they hear about it from their friends.

5. Post success stories are your website, preferably personal accounts from donors themselves.

Seeing and hearing about people their age doing good will open Gen. Y’s mind to donating, it won’t just be seen as something their parents do.

6. Don’t focus right away on getting money out of them.

With poor economy and Gen. Y’s reputation for being particularly parent-dependent and self-centered, money requests might come off as intimidating. Ask if they’d like to volunteer or suggest other free ways they can help.

7. In order to appeal your non-profit’s cause to Gen. Y—tell them how it will personally affect them/ their future.

For example, if your non-profit is an environmental organization, tell potential Gen. Y donors how their future will be benefited from the work the organization is doing to save the environment. Because Generation Y is known for being “self-centered,” they will respond better if the cause and effect are personally relatable.

8. Generation Yers don’t like to think of themselves as having a superfluous amount of free time (despite reality), so tell them the quickest and easiest way they can help—whether they are students, unemployed or have jobs.

If they let you know that they have extra time, then let them know about more long-term ways they can help.

9. Don’t be discouraged by smaller donations from Millenials; the average donation will go up over time.

Surveys have revealed that as Generation Y mature and they start to make more money, their donations will also increase.

10. Don’t smother them with follow-up emails.

Gen. Y knows how to use the “Spam” button, and getting a weekly email starts to look a lot like junk mail. Try and keep the emails personal to them, but also keep them updated on how their contribution has been effective. They want to know that whatever help they’ve given has actually done something.