Children are highly impressionable, and this is a great time for their parents to instill key philanthropic values for the future – namely empathy, compassion, and open-mindedness toward the world around them. By making such tenets a family tradition, parents can position their children to become kinder, humbler adults conducive to a stronger social climate – all while strengthening their own philanthropic identities along the way.

1. MAKING PHILANTHROPY A FAMILY AFFAIR
BRYAN GRANUM

2. Many people reflect on their childhood as a simpler,
less stressful time, often yearning for the days of low
responsibility and almost nonexistent societal pressure.
However, while this period may seem uncomplicated
and benign, it is also crucial from an emotional
development standpoint. Children are highly
impressionable, and this is a great time for their parents
to instill key philanthropic values for the future –
namely empathy, compassion, and open-mindedness
toward the world around them.

3. By making such tenets a family
tradition, parents can position their
children to become kinder, humbler
adults conducive to a stronger social
climate – all while strengthening
their own philanthropic identities
along the way.

4. Leading by example
There is extensive research on the malleability of
young minds – especially as it pertains to essential
cognitive functions like impulse control, judgment,
memory, and decision-making. A large portion of
this development comes directly from a child’s
environment, and much of this relates to the
behaviors they observe daily. This notion also
applies to a child’s social development; for instance,
a 2020 study found that children were 33 percent
more likely to make charitable donations as adults if
they regularly witnessed such behavior at a younger
age.

5. Therefore, parents need to be aware of how they act
around their children. In a philanthropic sense, this
process includes recognizing the opportunity to
normalize charitable behavior, acting as models of human
decency and introducing concepts like giving, sharing,
and valuing what you have. If a parent is involved in
specific charitable causes, they should make those
endeavors known to their children from a young age.
Philanthropists often downplay the work they do, usually
out of humility or unwavering focus on their next goal,
but for parents, it is crucial to be vocal about such
matters so children can absorb their overarching morals.

6. This approach can also help parents hone proper
self-awareness and perspective to become stronger
philanthropists themselves; think of it as teaching
and helping the greater good, not flaunting.

7. Broadening horizons
for the future
From an adult perspective, philanthropy can seem
straightforward regardless of the intended
beneficiary. Children, however, may not
immediately understand the concept’s countless
nuances and forms. In this sense, parents should
make philanthropic education both accessible and
digestible – all while touching on common
charitable avenues like donating, volunteering, and
committing random acts of kindness.

8. There are numerous family-oriented learning
outlets teaching these concepts. The Life You Can
Save, for instance, offers kid-friendly resources on
philanthropy, such as puppet-based videos
teaching the importance of giving and social
activism. The National Center for Family
Philanthropy (NCFP), on the other hand, features
countless articles, webinars, and other services
aimed at both philanthropic rearing approaches
and ways to instill giving as a familial value.

9. That said, to leave a good lasting impression,
parents must remember to give their children
a choice in specific charitable scenarios. If a
parent simply coerces a child into
participating with a reward-based mentality,
they risk stunting that child’s social and
emotional growth, decreasing their chances of
becoming genuinely altruistic in adulthood.

10. Parents should also ensure their children understand
the results of their philanthropic efforts whenever
possible, which may not always be easy if it involves
monetary donation. Parents can use these moments
to explain the cause or initiative in question,
describing various moral and social matters and the
larger change spurred by their donation. If anything,
parents can apply these moments to lesser social
situations in which their children may find
themselves; a donation to a shelter, for instance,
could relate to a past discussion on the importance
of sharing a toy – while touching on the much more
significant implications at play with the former.

11. In time, this socialization can help children
make giving a part of their permanent being.
These children can then pass those lessons on
to their children, making philanthropy an
enduring family tradition and, broadly, a
potential catalyst for generational change.

12. Thank You
You can read the full article on BryanGranumPhilanthropy.com