Giving as a family can bring everyone closer—not just to each other, but to the communities they support. A recent study revealed that 81% of parents who donate, report their children under 18 engaged in a charitable activity within the past year.

How to raise giving children

There are many ways to begin a family tradition of giving. Start by helping your children understand the needs of others and then identify each child’s unique talents for giving—for example, maybe they can play music at a nursing home for the elderly or participate in a sports charity event. Encourage conversations about the value of giving back and explore volunteer opportunities together. Even young children can take part in activities such as decorating lunch bags for a homeless shelter or sorting cans at a food bank. Think about integrating giving into their allowance by setting aside a portion for donations. As they grow, involve them in deciding where to give and visit nonprofits together. If you manage a fund, invite them to join in the grant-making process.

Family giving meetings

Consider holding an annual family giving meeting to discuss charitable goals, review impact and involve everyone in decision-making. During this meeting you can define or refine a family mission statement and ask compelling, thought-provoking questions such as “What kind of world do you want to see in the future?” “What are your values? “Where do you like to spend your time?” and “What brings you the most joy?” These will get you started.

At these meetings, you may decide to rally around one cause (e.g., animal shelters, education) and work together to support it financially, through volunteerism or both. Or you may decide to allocate each family member an amount to distribute to the charity of their choice, and then discuss their choices. Include younger children in these conversations to teach them the value of giving. These meetings help each generation share their unique perspectives and can strengthen your family’s commitment to making a difference.

Bring them back to the (giving) nest

Once children are grown, they will develop their own charitable customs but you can still make giving a family tradition. Opening a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a great way to bring children back to the nest. DAFs are charitable accounts offered by public charities such as the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC), and allow donors to make irrevocable, tax-deductible contributions, recommend grants to charities and invest assets for tax-free growth. DAFs give you the flexibility to spread out your giving over time, and as your children grow older, you can designate them as fund advisors and eventually as the successor fund advisors. This way, your children or grandchildren can make an impact in the community, continuing your legacy of giving while establishing their own legacies and ensuring that philanthropy remains part of your family culture. DAFs can also be personalized with names such as the “ABC Family Fund” — a possible fun family activity could be asking everyone to help name the fund. You can work with CFAAC to help make the process easy, relying on the staff to guide you and facilitate your grantmaking.

Even if you’re not ready to open a DAF, there are other ways to involve older children, especially if your family wants to focus on specific areas such as the environment or education. If you’re unsure where to give, CFAAC can guide you. One of the benefits of giving through CFAAC is that donations of any size can be pooled together to make a greater impact through grants to nonprofits. For example, if you care about helping the community in times of crisis, give to CFAAC’s Community Crisis Response Fund. If you want to help the environment, donate to our Environment Anne Arundel Fund. CFAAC also has funds dedicated to education, arts and culture initiatives or programs specific to women and girls. Even small gifts to these funds are meaningful.

The key point is that when families give together, it can spark a ripple effect of giving and generosity that can last a lifetime.

This article was originally published in The Capital Gazette on February 27, 2025.