If you’ve ever considered charitable giving in lieu of gifts for your child’s birthday party, you are not alone! Lots of parents are encouraging their kids to request gifts to support local charities instead of presents. This could include collecting books for a children’s hospital, supplies for an animal shelter, or food for a local food bank. When a group of people (at a birthday party) give to a charitable cause the impact is greater and those who participate are connected by their generosity. It’s a win-win for the donors and for the organization. It’s an opportunity to educate your kids about charities and help them understand that every dollar can make a difference.
If you are thinking about incorporating gifts to charity at birthday parties or other special events here are some tips:
Be intentional. Teaching children the value of charitable giving requires intentional strategies that blend financial education with empathy-building experiences. By including philanthropy as a regular part of your family routines and traditions, you can help your kids understand wealth as a tool for positive impact rather than just personal gain. Over time, you’ll see that this approach fosters both financial literacy and compassion for others.
It starts with money and more. It’s often helpful to start the conversation by talking about money management and community needs, side by side. For example, you can explain how $100 might feed a family for a week, or how $1,000 could fund educational supplies for an entire classroom. You could even help your kids create a “giving budget” so they can practice ways to make their intentions visual and concrete. If you have a donor-advised fund or other type of fund at the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation (GPCF), log in to your account and show your kids how it works.
Offer choices. Most kids don’t like to be told what to do so it’s important to empower children by showing them how to research and pick causes that are aligned with their interests. An example of this is when GPCF works with high school students on their Senior Capstone projects where they pick a charitable cause, fundraise for the activity, and turn their project idea into a reality. It’s important for young people to see how charitable giving connects to quality of life and supporting those in need. The opportunities are endless, but the key is giving options and finding the best fit.
Volunteer. Children (and adults) learn by doing, so try to find opportunities for hands-on involvement. You and your kids could volunteer together at food banks, organize neighborhood donation drives, or create handmade items for those in need.
The Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation is happy to be a sounding board as you work to involve your family in charitable giving. We are honored to work with all generations of community-minded people!
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