Despite presidential candidate histrionics, Americans should be proud of the nation’s immigration history … and its demographic future.

In the last fifty years, nearly 59 million immigrants have arrived in the US. The US has — by far — the world’s largest immigrant population, holding about one-in-five of the world’s immigrants.

And in the next fifty years, if current demographic trends continue, future immigrants and their descendants are projected to account for 88% of the US population increase, or 103 million people, as the nation grows to 441 million.

According to this brilliant report from Pew Research: “The combined population share of immigrants and their US-born children, 26% today, is projected to rise to 36% in 2065, at least equaling previous peak levels at the turn of the 20th century.”

In 1965, 84% of Americans were non-Hispanic whites. By 2015, that share has declined to 62%.

This gradual but steady shift in the US population demographics is a trend our next generation of fundraisers — those under, roughly, age 40 — will need to grapple with … no less than mastering the challenges of new media and targeting sophistication.

If you are a US fundraiser today, how much of your current fundraising response comes from the 38% of the population that is NOT ‘non-Hispanic white’ — those 18% Hispanic, 12% Black, 6% Asian … and others?

According to Pew, non-Hispanic whites are projected to become less than half of the US population by 2055 and 46% by 2065. For the first time, no racial or ethnic group will constitute a majority of the US population. Meanwhile, Hispanics will see their population share rise to 24% by 2065, while Asians will see their share rise to 14%.

Hopefully the fundraising community over time will itself better mirror the demographic composition of its market, making the challenge of adapting to a far more diverse fundraising marketplace less daunting.

Tom

P.S. If you’re a US fundraiser, please read the Pew report. Apart from the pure demographic stats, it includes an excellent analysis of Americans’ views on the impact immigrants have on American society. Here’s a sobering teaser:

“Overall, 45% of Americans say immigrants in the U.S. are making American society better in the long run, while 37% say they are making it worse (16% say immigrants are not having much effect) … Half of Americans want to see immigration to the U.S. reduced (49%), and eight-in-ten (82%) say the U.S. immigration system either needs major changes or it needs to be completely rebuilt.”