Raising future philanthropists

5 steps to instill positive values in your teens through service and granting

Watching our children grow into independent, thoughtful adults is one of parenting’s greatest rewards. As they begin making their own choices, we can still guide them in ways that support their growth. Philanthropy is a great way to do this. Encouraging young people to give back through volunteering or charitable giving nurtures empathy and a sense of purpose and helps them build their confidence and decision-making skills.

With my two kids, now ages 18 and 22, I introduced giving early on. From small acts of service to choosing causes they cared about, these experiences helped them grow into generous and thoughtful adults. Today, my focus is more on supporting them as they develop their own philanthropic interests and make giving choices that reflect their unique values.

Here are five steps to help you instill positive values in your kids, while encouraging individuality and confidence.

Step 1: Foster an open dialogue about giving

One of the best ways to get kids interested in service and giving (opens in new tab or window) is to speak openly about your own charitable activities. Even when children are very young, we can include them in conversations about family service and giving, making it a collaborative process.

• Talk openly about the role of philanthropy in your family, whether it’s a new tradition or one passed down through generations.
• Invite your kids to make suggestions based on their own interests and allow them to collaborate on decisions about giving.
• Emphasize your family’s “why” (the values that lead to giving) and “how” (the way your family’s service and giving reflect those values).

Step 2: Encourage teens to find their voice and take action

Adolescence is all about building identity and finding what makes us unique. Service can be an ideal area in which to give teens the space they so desire. Among children of givers, 59% of children under age 18 volunteer, 51% purchase products to donate, 58% give directly to individuals, and 43% make financial donations to nonprofits. To encourage giving and acts of service in your own children:

• Encourage questions and individual exploration. Help your kids deepen their knowledge by identifying areas of interest where you may be able to expose them to new ideas and activities.
• Provide opportunities for them to explore the causes that drive them. It helps to pay attention to their hobbies and interests and how they participate in them. The process of exploring these causes can provide exposure to new areas of interest that they may not have known they had.
• Allow your kids to explore areas of interest where they can get involved in their own way. Maybe the whole family volunteers at church but your children want to participate more in a youth-focused project, or perhaps they may wish to join a service club or association on their own.

Step 3: Tap into tech

The current generation of preteens and teenagers is made up of true digital natives. This can give us heartburn as parents who worry about their digital habits and social media use, but it can also be a positive pathway to philanthropic activity and service.

• If your children are allowed to engage on social media, encourage them to explore their interests and associated giving and service opportunities on their favorite platforms. You can do this while monitoring and discussing what they post and how they interact to ensure they stay safe online.
• When they have identified the causes they care most about, provide support and guidance for how to safely and effectively engage with these causes online. As they become more involved in philanthropy, preteens and teenagers may be inclined to share about their volunteering experiences and giving values with their social networks.  
• Kids are adept at finding information online, which can lead to deeper knowledge about the causes they care about, volunteer opportunities, and charitable giving more generally. Help them by highlighting digital giving and volunteering resources you trust to provide accurate information.

Step 4: Participate in purpose-driven activities, fundraisers, and campaigns  

While learning, sharing, and giving online is easy and fun, we can also encourage our kids to get outside and be active with their peers through volunteerism. Many preteens and teens feel a sense of camaraderie and competition when it comes to sports, school, and games. Competition can increase kids’ motivation to succeed and can provide the opportunity to collaborate as part of a larger group for a cause.

• Get involved as a family in charity races such as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure or the Relay for Life cancer charity walk, which are often organized by faith communities, schools, and service groups.
• Embolden kids to start or participate in friendly fundraising competitions for favorite causes among friend groups, sports teams, different schools, or other groups.
• Cheer on your preteens and teens as they participate in sports-related challenges for a cause, such as the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge.

Step 5: Establish a tradition of giving

There are many ways for families to give and to empower young adults to take charge of their own philanthropy. Establishing a tradition can be a fun and effective way to instill the values of giving and volunteerism in your kids. Some families do a yearly service project or commit to donating a certain amount each year. If you’re ready to formalize a tradition of family giving, consider introducing a donor-advised fund (DAF) into the mix.

• Create a small grant budget for your kids, allowing them to guide how your family recommends that those funds be granted from the DAF on a regular basis.
• Invite grandparents and other relatives to match funds with their own grant recommendations to those same causes.
• Consider a Gift4Giving eGift on birthdays or other special occasions. This feature allows friends and family to support charities using your Fidelity Charitable Giving Account. A gift of $50 to $10,000 can then be “spent” by recommending grants to charities of the recipient’s choice.

When my kids were a bit younger, they decided to participate in a 24-hour giving campaign supporting local nonprofits. The whole family got on board, and my teens made “mini grants” to their favorite charities, allowing small gifts to make a big impact. The experience was a hit, and my kids have brought this tradition forward into their lives as young adults.

Conversations around giving and service have continued to evolve as my children have grown into their unique philanthropic identities. Incorporating giving into my children’s lives as they’ve grown up has been incredibly gratifying for my family. May these ideas help spark meaningful conversations and lasting traditions as you raise the future philanthropists who will shape the world ahead.