Parenting and philanthropy:
Growing the next generation of givers

When it comes to parenting, charitable giving can act as a catalyst for instilling kindness, empathy, and the value of philanthropy in the next generation. When modeled by parents and inspired at a young age, these values can be a strong foundation for social success—and lay the groundwork for children to carry on the practice and build a legacy of giving.

To understand this connection, Fidelity Charitable surveyed nearly 1,500 parents and nonparents to understand giving behaviors among parents and their children and how becoming a parent changes the attitudes of givers. 

More highlights from the study include:

• As people become parents, philanthropy becomes a higher priority. More than two-thirds (69%) of parents give, and over half of these givers (54%) say that parenting increased the priority of giving in their lives.
• Having children has changed how parents view giving back, with nearly half (47%) supporting very different or fairly different types of organizations than they did prior to becoming parents, including a greater focus on causes related to their children’s education and activities.
• Sixty-two percent of parents who give also talk to their kids about giving, either through planned or spontaneous conversation, and actively engage them in planning, giving, and volunteering.
• Of the parents who give, more than three-quarters (81%) of their children have participated in giving activities within the last year—a direct translation of increased giving participation.

For more findings from the report, read the detailed results.