NTERGENERATION is a dynamic intergenerational group of funders, organizational development practitioners, and nonprofit leaders working to transform thinking and practice about leadership and leadership development. Since 2011, we have been finding, elevating and strengthening examples of collaborative leadership in the Philadelphia region, making connections between collaborative leadership and enhanced impact to communities and sharing these tools and examples with the broader community.

Seven years ago I was I was desperate to find a job that would be the right place to learn what I was good at and truly develop my skills in those areas.  I had a Master’s degree, several years of experience in fine arts and fundraising, in addition to more experience than I had ever hoped for as a waitress, bartender, barista, sales associate, telemarketer and circus jester.  At the end of my search, I landed a job at a foundation.

By Sharon Rice, Director of Community Relations, Generocity, and Steering Committee Member, EPIP-Philadelphia

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”   –Lao Tzu

My first job out of graduate school was as a therapist for children in foster care.  One day, I had a conversation with a client that changed my life forever. 

Earlier this year I wrote about how intentionally collaborating across generational and hierarchical boundaries is not just a nice, collegial thing to do: it is a necessity. The fact is that there are dozens of generationally-specific leadership development networks (mostly geared at Millennials) but very few networks that provide serious cross-generational dialogue and problem -solving around the full pipeline of nonprofit talent and intergenerational leadership issues. 

This post was authored by Alison Hastings.  Alison is an urban planner, a food system thinker and a people person.  She's also an EPIP member in Philadelphia.

There’s no denying that we’re in the midst of the holiday season and earnest end-of-year donor appeals from many nonprofit organizations.  Of all of the holidays, Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. 

By Iris Leon, member, EPIP Philly Steering Committee

We’ve all had that moment. The moment when our age smacks us in the face. I work on a college campus and I regularly have the opportunity to get a window into the minds of undergraduates. I’ve become increasingly aware of one thing: they’re young.

Intentionally collaborating across boundaries is not just a nice, collegial thing to do: it is a necessity. Intergenerational cross-boundary collaboration in particular has been gaining attention nationally and locally.   Developing and connecting the next generations of nonprofit leaders while supporting senior leaders as they mentor, celebrate their legacies and discover their next steps are all essential.