Raising Generous Humans

By Karen Hrdlicka, Director, The Center for Family Philanthropy

As a donor-advised fundholder, something in your life likely shaped your value of generosity. In our work with fundholders, we hear these stories repeatedly: the grandparent who brought a child to the food pantry each month, the parent who gave their child money each week for the church collection plate, the gratitude felt when the scouting troop they were in served meals to people experiencing homelessness. 

These experiences feel personal and organic – and they are – but they are not accidental. Research shows there is a science behind how generosity develops, and those same principles can be used intentionally to help nurture generosity in the children and young people in your life. 

As a donor-advised fundholder, you have access – as part of the fees you already pay – to support services grounded in research. Several of our staff members are 21/64 Certified Philanthropic Advisors who are trained to: 

Facilitate Growing Goodness, a tool designed to help adults be intentional about raising generous children. It offers 10 best practices, drawn from research and real-world experiences, that make conversations about values practical and actionable.
Lead age-appropriate family discussions around empathy, values and philanthropic interests. The research shows that empathy – understanding others' feelings and needs – is the foundation, and generosity is the action that follows. These dialogues can lead to an engaging family philanthropic plan that includes everyone. 
Support meaningful money conversations. Many families struggle to talk openly about money, yet research shows that avoiding these conversations can make generosity feel abstract or optional. We facilitate activities that help families talk about money and financial literacy in ways that are approachable, engaging and values-based. 
Expand the definition of generosity. Giving is not just about money. We help families explore how each member can contribute their time, talents, and ties in ways that feel authentic and empowering. 

When families ask what age is appropriate to involve children in philanthropy, our answer is simple: there is no minimum age. And the earlier you start, the more natural generosity becomes. 

As our community's champion and generator of enduring philanthropy, we are proud to support philanthropists of all ages. To learn more about the services available to fundholders through The Center for Family Philanthropy, contact Karen Hrdlicka.

This content is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.