Youth Philanthropy

A new offering for fundholders and their families

Supporting the philanthropic goals and impact of our fundholders is our core focus. Your philanthropy makes an impact on the causes you care about.  We are excited to announce a service offering that will make it easier to include the people you care more about in the process. Through a partnership with Seeds of Caring, we will be providing resources and hands-on opportunities to engage the children and grandchildren in your life in the joy of giving back.

Why Start Young? The Lasting Benefits of Teaching Kids Philanthropy

Did you know that children as young as age two can benefit from practicing kindness, empathy, and generosity? And that it can lead to everything from greater physical and emotional health, to increased civic engagement, to improved academic performance? Studies suggest that children who participate in giving activities develop stronger problem-solving skills, a deeper sense of gratitude, and greater emotional intelligence (Making Caring Common, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2021). Simply put – giving is good for kids. 

But beyond the positive effects on children themselves, early engagement in philanthropy contributes to stronger communities when generous, community-minded kids grow into generous, community-minded adults. One study by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute found that children whose parents regularly talk to them about giving were 20% more likely to give to charity themselves (2018). Additional research suggests that if children are involved in charitable actions before the age of 10, they are twice as likely to sustain it throughout their lifetime compared to young people who only start in their high school years (Arthur et al., 2017). The younger kids are when they start to engage in philanthropy and service, the more likely they are to see themselves as changemakers and develop confidence that they have the power to make a difference—no matter their age or resources.

Why Start Young? The Lasting Benefits of Teaching Kids Philanthropy

The reasons outlined above are why we are coming together with Seeds of Caring in 2025 to provide fundholder families with meaningful ways to involve their children in philanthropy. Seeds of Caring is a nonprofit that empowers kids ages 2-12 to create a kinder community, curating over 10,000 child volunteer experiences in Central Indiana last year.  Through this partnership, you can expect:

  • A bi-monthly “Youth Philanthropy Corner” e-newsletter feature
  • A hands-on Youth Philanthropy Giving Guide
  • A Family Day of Service focused on homelessness, and ongoing service opportunities for kids and families

These resources will help parents, grandparents, and other caregivers facilitate meaningful conversations about giving and inspire kids to take action.

A world-renowned educator, Dr. Jane Goodall, once said: “You aren’t going to save the world on your own. But you might inspire a generation of kids to save it for all of us. You would be amazed at what inspired children can do.” Stay tuned for more insights, resources, and opportunities in our Youth Philanthropy Corner! And in the meantime, head over to seedsofcaring.org to learn more about their hands-on service opportunities for Central Indiana kids.

SAVE THE DATE

Our first Family Day of Service will take place Sunday, May 4th 2:30 – 4:30.  Content will be most appropriate for ages 4 – 12, however kids outside this age will be engaged in a meaningful way.  More info to come!

References

  1. Making Caring Common Project, Harvard Graduate School of Education (2021). The Children We Mean to Raise: The Real Messages Adults Are Sending About Values. Retrieved from https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/reports
  2. Women’s Philanthropy Institute (2018). Women Give 2018: Transmitting Generosity to Daughters and Sons. Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu 
  3. Arthur, J., Harrison, T., Taylor-Collins, E., & Moller, F. (2017). A habit of service: The factors that sustain service. Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham Report.