All parents want their children to grow up to be respectful, courteous and compassionate toward others. Getting them interested in charitable giving is one way to help set them on that path. And remember, giving doesn’t only involve financial donations. Regions Bank works with many families in the River Region who have made charitable giving a top priority. Here are some tips I give clients.
- Choose charitable organizations that resonate with the whole family. Discuss each family member’s interests and determine one or two common elements. Then research age-appropriate volunteer opportunities and narrow the list from there. Once you determine an organization or cause, discuss how each family member can volunteer and whether you can use family celebrations like birthdays to request donations in lieu of gifts. Doing these activities together will also bring you closer as a family.
- Your child’s age can help you determine the best forms of charitable support. Age is important to consider because younger children may not feel connected to a particular organization and might feel bored if they don’t fully understand what’s going on or how their service helps others.
- Make charitable giving a family tradition. Whether it’s something you do once a month or every year, create a tradition that will show your children how serving others is an important part of life. Participating in awareness runs or walks is a great way to have a fun, recurring family event.
- Give your children input. Ultimately, your children will see what you do and mirror that. If you want to get them into volunteering, there is no better way than to lead by example. Once the groundwork is laid, children seem to find what they’re passionate about. It may be similar to what you’re passionate about, or it may be different. The key is to let them decide – and support them.
Getting your children excited about philanthropic work doesn’t need to be complicated. A simple conversation about helping people and volunteering as a family will show your children that it’s important to you — and will eventually become just as important to them.
Henry Moore is a Wealth Advisor for Regions Private Wealth Management. Contact him at Henry.Moore@Regions.com.
