5 minute read
Gifts that Keep on Giving
Teaching Children To Be Generous With Their Time, Talents, and Treasures
By Scott Kirk & Dan Rice
At Christian Appalachian Project we value young donors who are continuing the charitable tradition their parents or grandparents began by supporting CAP themselves. These multigenerational gifts help us bring hope, transform lives and share Christ’s love through service to thousands in Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia.
Around this time of year many people support CAP and other non-profits who help make our world a better place for those in need. The November and December months represent a long held tradition of generous giving in our country.
According to a recent article by Business Wire, charitable gifts to non-profit organizations increase over 40% during the holiday months. However, research by causes.com shows the reasons why Americans give is as varied as the organizations we give to.
On average, 45% of giving is motivated by natural disasters like earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes which uproot families and destroy whole communities.
39% of us give because a loved one has died or suffered from a deadly disease or illness. This group donates toward research that will hopefully find a cure and help save lives.
17% of Americans give because, like George Bailey’s friends in “It’s a Wonderful Life”, it feels good to help others. Even gifts given anonymously can provide a satisfying rush of feel-good endorphins.
12% of the population gives to honor a special occasion or person. It’s our way of showing tribute to the life or memory of someone special.
Sadly, nearly 10% of the Ebenezer Scrooges among us are motivated to give by the tax write off. While tax-wise giving is a prudent part of managing financial resources it should never be your only motivation to give. If it is, start volunteering at a homeless shelter and get a fresh perspective on life.
Whatever reason you donate to CAP rest assured that your gift matters and we work hard to be the best stewards possible as we use your gift to improve the lives of others.
Giving money to help others is not only deeply embedded in most faith traditions it is one of the central values of what it means to be an American. From national parks to libraries to museums, we all reap the benefits of other people’s generosity. As someone much wiser than any of us once said, “It is far better to give than it is to receive!” To be human is to be a philanthropist.
However, if you think philanthropy is only reserved for the rich and famous take another look at the word’s origins. Coined 2,500 years ago by a Greek playwright, the word philanthropy combines the words “philos” (love) with “anthropos” (human being). To be a philanthropist simply means “loving humanity”.
Every one of us has the capacity to be a philanthropist, to love humanity, even if all we have left to give is a few coins or a dollar a day.
Whatever your motivation this season for supporting worthwhile causes, giving financial gifts is a wonderful opportunity to mentor your children and grandchildren in the value of being a philanthropist. It also models that even with tight budgets in a challenging economy there are still ways we can help our neighbors.
If you believe that charitable giving is not an option, make it a priority in your home and give your children a new awareness of the world and their place in it. Cultivate in them a sincere sense of gratitude and appreciation for what they have, and what others don’t.
Here are five suggestions for how to raise children with charitable values:
Expect your children to give.
Start with you. Set the giving standard and watch to see if your child rises up to meet it. Children of all ages typically respond well to reasonable yet challenging expectations. Instead of handing them money to give away, pay them for a chore and tell them ahead of time that you’d like them to give away 10% of what they earn to a charity that’s important to them. They’re not immune to the suffering and needs around them. Their sensitive hearts will guide them.
Show them what and where you give.
You may find this tough to do because we are usually taught from a young age to be very private about our giving. However, mentoring means modeling. Dare to show your children what you give and where. Talk about why you give and how you chose those charities. Show them how you use an online tool like guidestar.com to research a charity. By introducing your children to good charities and by sharing examples of giving, you will encourage them to trust you and to develop their sense of team spirit.
Match their giving.
When you match your children’s giving, you begin to understand what touches their hearts and your child discovers what you value through your giving. Remember that training children to give away your money—even effectively—is not the same as encouraging them to be givers of their own money. However, during this time when you are modeling and training, you are preparing your children for when they will ultimately make personal giving decisions for themselves.
Take them with you on visits to charities.
You may be surprised just how much children learn from being with you during your visits to charities. Being exposed to the work can open a child’s mind to a variety of ideas and conversations, and give children experiences to think about for weeks to come. In time, they will want to go on their own, and they will know what to look for and ask about.
Celebrate their giving.
Find ways to catch children in the act of giving, like when they want their birthday party to support a worthy cause. Let them know you notice and approve of their giving. Keep a light attitude and an accepting countenance. Remind them that God, the greatest giver of all time, loves a cheerful giver and that giving is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Finally, keep in mind it’s important to talk with children about making giving a life-long habit, and not just an isolated holiday activity. By making generous giving an ongoing tradition you are moving your child towards a compassionate way of life that they will carry with them forever and pass on to future generations.
It’s up to all of us to mentor the next generation of philanthropists. Let’s teach our children and grandchildren to love others intentionally during this wonderful season of giving!
