Many children are already involved in fundraising through their schools, scouts and churches, but bringing philanthropy into the home makes giving back to your community a whole-family effort.
You can introduce your child to the rewards of helping others by establishing an “I Can Make a Change” jar.
One of the best ways to inspire a budding philanthropist is to choose a charitable organization that appeals to your child’s passion. Consider personal hobbies, favorite school subjects and stories in the news that spark her curiosity.
Are there specific causes or issues she finds interesting? Use this information to guide your child in selecting a charity or cause toward which to make a contribution.
If you have an artist or musician in the family, consider donating to an art museum or local symphony. An animal lover may opt to support a local shelter or rescue group. An avid reader may be interested in helping fund a literacy program.
No matter what her interest, there is a group — local, national or international — to match her passion. To get started, check out GuideStar.org for a listing of local, national and international charities.
(4 votes, avg. 4.75 out of 5) 
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I love this! Every year on our sons’ birthdays we empty their piggy banks. They save 1/3, spend 1/3, and donate 1/3. Each year they choose an organization to support based on what interests them (obviously we chose for them when they were young). We donated to the Humane Society on my older son’s first birthday because his first word was “dog.” One year my son wanted to give to firefighters because he was on a fireman kick. Another year my oldest son gave to public TV because he liked watching Cyberchase. This year the boys donated to Haiti relief and the Ronald McDonald House. We delivered the check in person, along with some items from their wish list.
We applaud the idea of empowering your children to give by letting their interests guide their choices! Letting them be the “deliverers” of their respective gifts also lets them see first-hand the impact they can have on others!