How to Introduce Kids to Philanthropy

In Greek, the word philanthropy means “loving people.” There are many benefits to philanthropy: it accelerates and allows for more progress where it’s needed; it has the power to make lasting change; and it strengthens communities. All these things benefit people, societies, and the planet we all share.

While the purpose of philanthropy is not and should not be for personal gain, there’s no doubt that there are indirect and worthwhile benefits to the giver. One study on the effects of giving and volunteering found that volunteers reported more positive affect, life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and less depression compared to non-volunteers.

Parents who prioritize philanthropy naturally want to introduce their children to the practice as well. It is one of the many ways kids can proactively care for their peers and world, and is an excellent way to practice compassion.

There are many ways to introduce kids to philanthropy, and it may look different for them depending on their age and ability—but here are some ways to get started!

These preschoolers helped decorate and make a sign for their underwear donation bin.

Find Age Appropriate Opportunities

It’s important to match kids to age-appropriate opportunities. Obviously your approach will be different if you have a toddler vs. a teenager. When kids are younger, a great way to introduce them to philanthropy is by modeling the behaviors and values you hope to share with them. A volunteer brought her toddler to one of our underwear-packing parties, and while he was too young to help fold and package underwear, just by being at the event and seeing his mom helping her community will make it seem like a normal behavior that’s part of their lives. Kids thrive on routines, so giving back regularly will become a normal thing for them as they grow up and start to become more independent.

Another great way to get young ones open to the idea of giving back is reading books about helping and caring for others. We love the 123s of Kindness, A Kids Book About Philanthropy, and Cameron’s Clutter, which teaches young kids about donating their toys in order to both downsize and help others.

For something more hands-on, you can start involving grade school kids in making donations when they are ready to pass along toys or clothes they’ve outgrown to others. Kids can see how they can make a difference by donating something that belongs to them, which is a precursor to donating money. Our partner, Cradles to Crayons, is a great place to make donations of gently used toys, books, clothes, and more. Then as they are more capable, you can look for age-appropriate volunteer opportunities.

One thing we love involving kids in is our underwear drives! We’ve seen kids host underwear drives at their birthday parties, during the holiday season, with sports teams, schools, and more. One of the schools that hosted a drive for us made it a friendly competition—the classroom(s) that had the most participation won a PJ and movie day as a prize! That got kids excited and they encouraged their peers to donate. This applies all the way to high schoolers who have exhibited leadership skills by initiating an underwear drive at their school by talking to and planning with the Vice Principal, along with taking care of the collection logistics.

Donation drives are also a learning opportunity for kids. It’s a great way for even the youngest philanthropists to practice gratitude, along with seeing the results of working together to make an impact.

If you or your child would like to learn more, please visit our How to Help section.

A volunteer modeling philanthropy to her toddler. Soon he will help out too!

Choose Causes They Care About or Relate To

While doing any good is a positive thing, finding a cause that your child is interested in or can relate to will increase their interest and willingness to get involved. For example, if you have a child who cares about the environment and nature, they may be interested in joining a local clean-up day or going to a park to pick up litter. At Cocotree Kids, even the youngest children can relate to our mission of providing new underwear to kids in need. Underwear is essential and they can grasp the concept of not having something so basic—and why it’s important to have it. Finding something they can connect with is what helps them empathize with a cause and feel connected to it.

Talk About Giving

A 2013 report by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute found that “parents who talk to their children about charitable giving significantly increase the likelihood that those children will give to charity.” Talking is an effective way to introduce kids to philanthropy and raise them to care about others. Parents are children’s first and most important teachers, and talking about why you have certain family values is so important in instilling those values. We mentioned some books above, and will share some more in a future post that are great conversation starters for young children.

Plan a Family Volunteer Activity

A large number of the volunteers at Cocotree Kids are parents and we love how they involve their kids when they volunteer with us. When we host fold-and-pack events, we have everyone from individuals to families come together to help. It’s a great way to work as a team with your kids to make an impact. We also have parents and kids sign up to help at community events together or host underwear drives.

Most of our volunteers and staff brought their kids to help out at Natick Days—and they did a fantastic job!

Visit a Community Event Highlighting the Work of Local Nonprofits

Cocotree Kids’ headquarters is in Natick, MA. We are lucky to be in a town that hosts an incredible event, Natick Days, which is an annual festival celebrating our community by providing an opportunity for Natick youth groups and nonprofit organizations to increase visibility for the great work they do. It’s a Natick tradition that highlights the work of the service organizations and volunteers that make the Town of Natick such a great place to live, work, and play.

My own kids anticipate this event and are excited to help volunteer, as it has become a tradition now. Attendees in the past remember our games and look forward to visiting our booth as well. This is one example that hits all of our previous points: it’s a family volunteer activity, an age appropriate opportunity for kids to volunteer about a cause they relate to, and one that has become a normal part of our lives.

Check to see if your town has a similar event, and let us know if it would make sense for Cocotree Kids to attend! We are always looking to get involved in other cities and towns, as our reach expands across the state. We hope to see you at an event in the future, or better yet, come volunteer with us!

Highlight the Impact

It feels really good when you know that you have made a direct and meaningful impact on others. Without knowing the impact, you likely won’t want to put more time or money into your efforts! We are all busy, so choosing to take the time to make a difference in the lives of others or donating your money to further those efforts is significant. The feeling of knowing that you are helping others in your community, and that what you do makes a difference is motivating—and will have kids and adults alike coming back.