Growing the Next Generation of Community Champions

One of the greatest opportunities community foundations have is engaging the next generation in philanthropy. While many of your donors have spent years investing in their communities, they are also thinking about the legacy they hope to leave not only through charitable gifts, but through the values they pass on to their children and grandchildren.

As foundation leaders, you are uniquely positioned to help make those conversations easier.

Parents and grandparents often ask how they can introduce teenagers to charitable giving in ways that feel meaningful rather than obligatory. The teenage years are an ideal time to begin. Young people are developing their own interests, learning about community challenges, and discovering the difference they can make.

As your community foundation builds relationships with donors, consider sharing a few simple ideas that families can use to begin those conversations.

1. Start with their interests.

Instead of introducing your favorite organizations first, encourage families to ask teens what causes matter to them. Whether it's agriculture, education, athletics, the arts, mental health, or helping neighbors in need, their interests can become the starting point for lifelong generosity.

2. Volunteer as a family.

Community service creates experiences that charitable giving alone cannot. Even a few hours volunteering together helps young people understand the work local nonprofits do every day.

3. Share your community's story.

Every community has organizations, projects, and traditions worth celebrating. Encourage families to attend local events, visit nonprofit organizations, and learn about the projects their community foundation has helped support through grants and donor generosity.

4. Include teens in giving conversations.

Whether it's discussing a family's annual charitable gifts or asking which community needs seem most important, involving teens in the decision-making process helps them understand that philanthropy is about listening, learning, and making thoughtful choices.

5. Talk about family values.

Charitable giving is often rooted in personal experiences. Encourage donors to share why certain organizations matter to them and how those experiences have shaped their desire to give back.

6. Encourage personal generosity.

A first charitable gift doesn't have to be large. Whether it comes from a part-time job, birthday money, or another source, giving from their own resources helps young people understand the joy and responsibility of philanthropy.

7. Introduce them to local leaders.

Many of the people making a difference in your community are volunteers, nonprofit leaders, business owners, educators, and civic leaders. A simple conversation with someone passionate about your community can leave a lasting impression.

8. Invite them to community foundation events.

Match Days, grant celebrations, scholarship presentations, and community events offer young people a firsthand look at philanthropy in action. Seeing generosity at work helps connect charitable giving with real community impact.

9. Celebrate curiosity.

Not every teenager will immediately know where they want to make a difference and that's okay. Encourage families to ask questions, explore new causes, and stay open to learning together.

10. Remember that generosity grows over time.

There is no perfect formula for raising charitable children or grandchildren. Small experiences and meaningful conversations often become the foundation for a lifetime of community involvement.

As community foundations, you are helping build stronger communities today while also inspiring the community leaders and philanthropists of tomorrow. By encouraging families to involve the next generation in charitable conversations, volunteerism, and local giving, you help ensure that the spirit of generosity continues for years to come.

After all, every lasting legacy begins by inspiring someone else to care.