Growing Philanthropic Kids
The first time I heard about kids and philanthropy was when I heard Carole Weisman at a fundraising conference. Honestly, I had never thought about putting the two together. I did not grow up in a charitable family. We had no traditions of delivering meals to the homeless or raising money for a worthy cause. I was not a volunteer for anything until I was an adult.
Carole’s book, Raising Charitable Children, is fun and easy to share with children. Since the book came out there seems to be a whole subset in the philanthropic sector devoted to children as philanthropists.
One method that is easy for parents and kids to do together is the 3-jar allowance: one for spending, one for saving, and one for sharing. Younger children can easily understand this visual lesson. Spending for immediate gratification, saving for that larger purchase, and sharing with a cause bigger themselves.
The Sharing Jar gives parents the opportunity to talk with their kids about the world outside their home and school. If the child is interested in animals, then a trip to an animal shelter may be appropriate or together, you could do some online research.
Another simple way to weave philanthropy into the family fabric is to create family traditions or rituals. One example I like is donating a book to the library on the child’s birthday. They get to pick it out and maybe use some of the money from the Sharing Jar, and deliver it to the library. I’m sure there are many kid-friendly volunteer and donation opportunities available in your community or school or place of worship.
Parents are a child’s first teachers. If you are charitable, then your children are more likely to be charitable. You don’t really need an organization to tell you how to do it, but just in case you want some resources…
· Carole Weisman, Raising Charitable Children, https://boardbuilders.com/bookstore/
· https://www.philanthropykids.org/
· https://www.learningtogive.org/
· https://pj.news.chass.ncsu.edu/2018/09/24/raising-a-generous-generation/
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Association of Fundraising Professionals Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award. This award is given annually at the National Philanthropy Day Luncheon and it recognizes the service of an individual or group of young people ages 5-23 “who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, volunteerism and leadership in philanthropy.”
Kids are people, too. It’s never to early to learn about charity and philanthropy.
DMGroupConsulting has one goal, to help you achieve your goals. We offer fundraising and board development services to nonprofit organizations and social responsibility planning to small and mid-size for-profit businesses. Please contact us for more information.