Learning to Give at a Young Age

Parents can introduce children to philanthropy at an early age by encouraging them to donate gently used books and toys. Later on, parents can encourage children to donate a portion of their allowance to a charity or to volunteer in service projects.

One child-focused philanthropic initiative, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, has helped raise over $164 million for needy children around the world. Many cities also have local programs to help children raise money and invest it in a charitable cause. The Young Philanthropists Foundations’ Penny Harvest is another child-based philanthropic program. During the Penny Harvest, students ask for “idle pennies” from family and friends and use them to make micro-grants to non-profit organizations.

Many adults who help with these child-based philanthropic initiatives often claim that the experience teaches them to view and address social problems differently and helps them become more inspired to help with other charitable initiatives.  According to Lisa Farber Miller, the senior program officer at Rose Community Foundation (a child-base philanthropic initiative), “As adults, we need to fight the instinct to do things for teens and their future. Instead, we need to empower them to make a difference now. Engage them in grant-making decisions. Give them adult opportunities to make an impact and improve their community through philanthropy. They won’t disappoint you.”

See Bruce DeBoskey, Kids Can Be Philanthropists of Great Stature, Deverpost, Feb. 19, 2012.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.