HEALTHCARE, MEET

PHILANTHROPY

Healthcare costs are rising. In fact, it'sprojected that healthcare costs will

rise by about 5.8% per year, until2024.

As if that's not enough, healthcare costsare expected to outpace GDP growth by

about 1.1% per year.

So, how dowe bridgethis gap?

Before we can get any deeper, we needto address the elephant in the room:

politics

Healthcare reform is being hotlydebated on both sides of the aisle. Civil

debate and argument is a definingfeature of American politics, and we

should encourage an open and honestdialogue between those who agree

with and oppose our views.

But healthcare costs don't tow a partyline. Whether the system stays the

same, or even if taxpayers never payanother dime in healthcare, costs will

continue to rise.

Let's also take a moment to figure outwhy costs are rising so high in the first

place.

The short answer: Baby Boomers who made upa large part of the workforce are approachingan age at which healthcare costs shoot up, andGen X-ers and millennials are going to have to

foot the bill.

However, today’s generation is experiencinga lower birthrate that has resulted in about

nine million fewer people than their parents’generation. Fewer working people means

less tax revenue, so when the bill arrives, theentire generation will come up short.

So the crisis isn't born from a youngworkforce being lazy. Instead, they

haven't met critical mass.

But philanthropic efforts may be ableto help with those costs. In order to

meet them, we'll need to collectivelyfundraise twice as much than we do

now.

If you're concerned about yourorganization's ability to raise funds,

don't be! Data shows thatorganization’s fundraising

expenditure budget was the greatestpredictor of fundraising success.

Or more simply, the more you spend,the more you make.

Let's do our best to embrace the spiritof giving!

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