Resource Generation

Resource Generation organises young people with wealth in the United States around redistributing it. It began in 1995 among New England donors and activists, incorporated as Comfort Zone in 1997, took its present name in 2000 and became an independent 501(c)(3) in 2015. It now reports more than 1,100 dues-paying members across at least 18 local chapters, collectively moving over $100 million a year to social justice organisations. The core constituency is 18 to 35 year olds in the top 10 per cent of the US economy by net wealth or income; the site publishes detailed percentile thresholds and a separate high net wealth band for the top 1 per cent. Membership has four tracks: Constituent for those aged 18 to 35 with current access to wealth or high income, Stepping Stone for the same age group with future wealth but limited current income, Alumni for members over 35, and Advocate for people who identify as poor, working or middle class. Members are asked to follow Redistribution Guidelines — redistributing at least 7 per cent of assets or 10 per cent of excess income annually — and to give RG 5 to 10 per cent of their total annual giving as dues.

How it works

Members complete an intake form, choose the track that matches their age and access to wealth, pay dues and join a local chapter. Chapters run the day-to-day organising; national programming includes all-member calls, webinars, conferences and campaigns, currently including a national housing justice campaign. Members are eligible to sit on the National Member Council, which shapes organisational strategy, and connect through chapter and interest listservs. The Redistribution Pledge asks members to commit publicly, ideally on a multi-year basis, at the 7 per cent level or above. A sibling 501(c)(4), RG Action, handles electoral organising.

Typical member

Members are young people with inherited or earned wealth in the top decile of the US economy. Qualification runs through personal income at roughly the 90th percentile for the member's state (around $105,000 nationally, ranging from about $82,000 to $248,000 by cost of living), significant personal net financial assets, or family wealth — family net wealth of $1 million or more, parental income in the top decile, or ownership of a family foundation. A high net wealth designation covers the top 1 per cent: $1 million or more in liquid assets, an anticipated inheritance of $5 million, or family net wealth of $10 million or more.

Resource Generation is the inverse of most networks in this database. Where its peers help wealth holders give more effectively, RG organises them to give the wealth away and to argue publicly for redistribution, and it is explicit about the politics behind that. The qualification thresholds are unusually specific and unusually low compared with philanthropic networks that ask for $1 million commitments: an income around $105,000 or family net wealth of $1 million is enough. Dues are correspondingly modest at a $500 baseline, or 5 to 10 per cent of a member's total annual giving, with a $60 tier for students. Two things a prospective member should note. First, the Redistribution Guidelines — 7 per cent of assets or 10 per cent of excess income annually — are the real commitment, and they are asked of every member rather than being aspirational. Second, RG is 95 per cent member-funded by design, so dues are framed as funding the organisation rather than buying services. Anyone looking for wealth preservation, investment discussion or discreet peer advisory will be in the wrong room.

Editorial analysis by Peer Group Guide editors. It is separated from the record above and follows the editorial policy.