Mingle for a cause, without the Olds

Good food, a chance to dress up, men in ties with their shirts tucked in, and all for the good cause of your choice! 

A charity gala?  Yawn, you say, more like a chance to sign away thousands of dollars to sit around with my parents and grandparents.  Not so!

Many charitable organizations and institutions, realizing that their typical support base is aging and dwindling, are reaching out to younger potential-donors with membership levels or programs specifically for young people (20s and 30s).

Membership is usually tax-deductable (since it’s in essence a donation), so I suggest spending that ten percent of your income that you’ve set aside for charitable donations to get your elbows up against some swankily-dressed charitably-minded young men (like Ethan Hawke!). 

And if you’re not ready to spring for a full membership, sign up for Charity Happenings, a “master calendar” geared toward “young philanthropists” in several cities and listing events either for young people or priced for young people (ie, cheap).

This list is for New York City organizations.  I’m sure big non-profits in other cities have them, too.  Or, suggest one to your favorite organization: they’re always looking for ways to engage us.  (This list is definitely not complete; maybe I’ll update it.)

• The New York Landmarks Conservancy: Young Landmarks Council - $250
• New York City Ballet: Young Patrons Circle - $350+
• Metropolitan Museum of Art: Young Members - $60+, or try the Apollo Circle if you really want to go for gold (literally—you will be mailing in your gold for the $1,000 membership fee)
• New York Historical Society: Young Friend - $175
• Film Society of Lincoln Center: New Wave - $300
• Metropolitan Opera: Young Associates - $500
• Museum of the City of New York: Young Members Circle - $100
• Municipal Art Society of New York: Urbanist - $65 or $250
• New York Philharmonic: Young New Yorkers - $150+
• New York Public Library: Young Lions - $350+
• Asia Society: Young Patron - $150+
• Central Park Conservancy: Greensward Circle - $300

“We met at the Young New Yorker Winter party in 2004 and were married in September 2006.  Our “very” Young New Yorker, Miles, was born in July 2008—and he loves music, too!” — Loren & Michael Dinger, Young New Yorkers

See you at the Spring Fling!