Ways to teach your kids about philanthropy

Leading by example is a powerful way to get your children involved in charitable giving from an early age. In fact, studies show that when parents give to charity, their kids are more likely to give to charity, too.¹

As your children grow up, it’s natural that you’ll want them to establish a strong set of values that they can carry through their lives. These values are likely to come from you, especially in younger children, so it’s important to demonstrate not only your own values but also how you put those values into action in both small and large ways.

Finding ways to inspire children of any age to be generous is easy with some thoughtful planning. Here are some simple ways to start teaching your kids about the joys, benefits and responsibilities of charitable giving.

1. Create space for gratitude and giving.

Gratitude is a helpful practice for everyone but can be especially important for higher-income families. Privileged children can benefit from understanding that the life they lead doesn’t represent reality for many others.

On a regular basis, let your child hear you express your:

• Gratitude for what you have
• Commitment to helping others
• Interest in what your child is grateful for and how they want to help others

Mealtime, bedtime and car rides offer great opportunities for sparking these conversations. Show your child that their voice is welcome when it comes to how, when and where your family chooses to give.

More broadly, discuss how charitable giving fits into your overall household budget and why you value being able to give back.

2. Weave charitable giving into everyday activities.

Setting aside time for charitable activities can be useful, especially for busy families, but you can also embed them into your day-to-day life. Here are some ideas:

• Throw a children’s party for a cause. You could ask guests (and their families) to bring a few shelf-stable products to the party that can be donated to your local food bank.
• Host a bake sale. Proceeds could go to a charity of your child’s choice.
• Spring clean for charity. Let your child pick out which of their outgrown clothes and toys they’d like to donate to charity.

Events and activities like these let your child build positive associations with the practice of giving and experience first-hand the joy of sharing what they have, with the goal of helping someone else. Plus, by keeping the focus on action vs. ideals, children learn on their own how to spot opportunities to help others.

3. Catch your kids in acts of kindness.

Start noticing ways your child naturally displays a giving nature. Maybe they share their toy without being asked or help a new classmate get on the right bus. When you see these positive behaviors in action, use them as opportunities to talk to your child.

• Tell them how proud you are of their choices
• Find out what inspired them to act in that moment
• Ask how it felt for them to demonstrate kindness and generosity
• Share how much they have inspired you to be kind and generous

Telling your child that you notice when they help others reinforces the value of those actions.

4. Be a good neighbor.

Let your child see you reach out when someone needs a helping hand. The gesture can be as simple as gathering a neighbor’s mail while they travel. Or caring for the kids of a single parent so they can get to a job interview.

As your children observe your day-to-day generosity, they learn that acts of service, large and small, can create stronger, more resilient communities. And they see that needing and receiving help is also a normal part of life.

5. Communicate your charitable priorities.

Maybe you already have certain causes and charities that are close to your heart. Let your child in on important details, such as:

• Why the cause is important to you
• How you chose it over other causes
• How long you’ve been giving to the cause
• How often you contribute, and how much (if appropriate)
• Where the money goes: Research? Education? Operating costs?

6. Show your kids that financial donations are just one way to contribute.

Lending your skills and/or time to a cause can be every bit as meaningful as a financial contribution. Charitable organizations and nonprofits often need volunteers to help serve clients, manage operations and more. This sometimes brings you in contact with the people you’re trying to help, which can be a powerful motivator for children.

Also, when you find the right fit for the interests and skills of you and your child, you gain a memorable, meaningful way to spend time together. Your child sees members of a community rallying around a shared cause, and the whole practice becomes more tangible.

7. Involve kids in philanthropic decision making.

Your younger children’s interests might align with yours, but as they get older, they are more likely to take an interest in philanthropy if they can relate to a cause or find it interesting.

Find out where their interests lie. Have they taken notice of a specific local charity, social cause or bigger picture issue? If they have an area of interest but don’t know where to start, you can check Charity Navigator for information on top-rated charities and tips for giving wisely.

Encourage them to explore their interests, try things out, learn from their mistakes and grow from the experience. Encourage their own ideas, energy and excitement around causes they can relate to.

8. Engage reluctant givers.

Some tweens and teens may be initially reluctant to put time into giving back, so involving their friends is one way to engage them. It may be helpful to position charitable giving as a social activity in which they get to spend time with friends or other close family members.

You could also use gamification to help them identify a cause they’d like to get involved with. Games4Sustainability employs games and social simulations that can involve teens in activities that help them better understand some of the challenges facing the world. If they are game-oriented, this type of engagement may help them gain a greater appreciation for the personal satisfaction of philanthropy.

9. Show kids the results of their charitable giving.

Track your shared progress as a family. Once each month or quarter, hold an informal meeting to celebrate any positive news on specific campaigns or issues your family contributes to. If your kids are old enough, let them speak about how their chosen charities are doing.

Keep the gathering light and fun, so it’s something everyone looks forward to. You can also use that meeting to decide whether you’d like to keep giving to the same organizations or switch to something new.

When you teach your children about the value of gratitude, generosity, and helping others from a young age – and offer them opportunities to give back – you set them up to become adults who can give back in meaningful ways.

Learn how Philanthropic Services from U.S. Bank can help you optimize your charitable giving.