Endowments with The Catholic Community Foundation are a great way for entire families to experience philanthropy. And by involving children at an early age, you can instill in them the values and benefits of helping others.
Involving your children in philanthropy is a wonderful way to teach them about giving and the impact they can have in their local community and the world. We’ve all heard stories about young people who have raised funds for all types of causes from school supplies to cancer research. Here are just a few ways to engage your children in philanthropic efforts that support your community, your values, and your faith.
Discuss Philanthropy: Share stories about your own experiences with giving and the causes that you support. Explain why it’s important to help them understand the concept of giving and its value. The Catholic Community Foundation’s Stories of Giving show examples of how individuals, families and organizations are supporting various Catholic ministries.
Giving Allowance & Matching Contributions: In addition to rewarding household chores and scholastic achievements, introduce a “giving allowance” where children can allocate a portion of their allowance to charity. Whether they donate to a school fundraiser, a poor box at church, or even an existing endowment, this can teach them about financial responsibility and generosity. Offer to match the contributions your children make to your family endowment, church collection, or other charity. This can motivate them to give more and understand the impact of their actions.
Volunteer Together: Participate in volunteer activities as a family. Whether it’s a parish ministry or helping at a food drive, hands-on participation enables children to see the difference they can make.
Involvement: Involve your children in the decision-making process for your family endowment. Teach them about different aspects of philanthropy, including the needs of different communities and how the Catholic Community Foundation and other Archdiocesan ministries work. Allow your children to help choose other Archdiocesan charities or causes to support to give them a sense of ownership and involvement in the philanthropic process.
Set Goals: Encourage them to set goals for their philanthropic efforts, such as raising a certain amount of money for a Catholic cause they care about.
Celebrate Giving: Reinforce positive behavior by recognizing and celebrating acts of giving, whether they be small donations or a days spent volunteering.
Children learn by example, so let them see you actively involved in philanthropic activities. Your actions will inspire them to follow suit. Remember, the goal is to make philanthropy a natural and enjoyable part of life, instilling a lifelong commitment to giving and helping others.
Follow the Catholic Community Foundation on Facebook to see the many ways the Foundation and our fund holders impact our Archdiocesan community.
