Your Guide to Make Giving a Family Affair - The New York Community Trust

July 15, 2021 | By The New York Community Trust

Your Guide to Make Giving a Family Affair

GIVING TOGETHER: The Moore family believes in the power of giving. Lily Moore’s grandparents, David and Katherine Moore, created donor-advised funds in The Trust for their children and grandchildren. Lily (pictured here with Katherine) is now part of two giving circles at The Trust, including the Giving Collective and WellMet Philanthropy, and works at the Food Bank for New York City.

No matter where you are on your family tree, philanthropy can be a powerful way to share values and connect with your loved ones. It provides a path to discussions about social issues and our collective responsibility to make the world a better place. It’s a way to learn about the world and each other. Below are tips to help you and your family discover new ways to work together and share the joy of helping others.

Nurture the Youngest Donors: If young children have developed the motor skills to hold a dollar in their hands, they have the capacity to give that dollar away. Find ways to bring giving into everyday life. Have your children help you pick items for a food drive and drop them off together. Use nonprofit newsletters as conversation starters and to introduce important issues.

Invite Your Children to Give: Ask your child to identify a cause they care about and then, together, research organizations working in that area. Foster their feeling of ownership and autonomy. This is also an opportunity for children to learn how to evaluate an organization or make difficult choices among competing needs. Follow up with the organization together to see what kind of impact your gift has made. Some of our current donors create donor-advised funds for their children.

Learn Together: Organize a family documentary night or group reading on a particular issue to spur conversation about giving, or invite family members to attend events with you. For example, The Trust hosts briefings on philanthropic giving throughout the year that are open to donors and their guests.

Establish a Family Tradition: Create a family giving ritual where you come together once a year and discuss how the family will make grants in response to current needs and events. For younger children, serve a special treat as an incentive to participate fully and schedule it at the same time each year—for example, the day after Thanksgiving—so that it becomes a tradition.

Whether you’re starting out or have an established practice of giving with your family, we’re here to help. Learn more about giving with The Trust or contact John Oddy at (212) 686-2564 or jjo@nyct-cfi.org.