Introduction
Though oft-associated with older and wealthy donors, philanthropy transcends economic and age demographics. Especially today, youth are establishing themselves as a force in charity, holding strong promise for the future. As Philanthropy Journal noted in a November 20, 2002 article:
Americans who volunteer when young are more generous adult donors and volunteers than are those who don’t volunteer when young, says [a] report by Independent Sector and Youth Service America. Parent volunteers are more likely to inspire their children, and parents who volunteered when young are more likely to volunteer with their children.”
The joint paper, among its many findings, stated “44 percent of adults volunteer, and two-thirds of those volunteers began volunteering when young” and that “families in which adults and youngsters volunteer donate $2,895 a year on average compared to $1,576 donated by households in which no one volunteers.”
The opportunity to attract and openly involve youth in donating, and encourage a lifelong ethic of giving is one that should be taken seriously. However, this can only happen when children are actively involved in learning and taking leading roles.
Academic Impact
The specific impact of youth involvement in charity on academics is an ongoing topic of research. A 2001 study by the James Irvine Foundation’s Youth Leadership Institute found that
“while there may be little in the way of empirical evidence that these activities lead to improved success in school, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that they do…many involved in the youth philanthropy field, including the youth themselves, make this link not only with academic achievement, but with success in their future careers.”
However, the RMC Research Corporation cited in a report (originally published 2002, updated with new information in 2007) a growing amount of studies pointing to improved school success for youth philanthropy participants, as well as growth of ethical values and self-esteem.
The Irvine Foundation noted in a survey of youth grant making board members, a high percentage gave an answer of “a lot” or a fair amount” when asked how their involvement helped them
• Learn how to make better decisions (95%)
• Learn about issues that peers face in your community (88%)
• Become better at planning and facilitating meetings (82%)
• Feel more comfortable sharing ideas in a group (83%)
• Feel more comfortable in a leadership role (86%)
• Feel more comfortable giving presentations in public (74%)
• Be more committed to helping out the community (89%)
• Develop positive relationships with youth that you would otherwise never have met (87%).
• Develop a strong, positive relationship with at least one adult (79%).
• Prepare for college or higher education (59%).
• Increase their interest in higher education (59%).
With the impact youth philanthropy can have both for giving and those involved, how could you see such a program helping your organization? How would you want to recruit children and teens and give them a voice and role in your work? For one example of a initiative emphasizing youth leadership and empowerment, check out the Genesis Network’s own Change for Hope.
In our next installment, we will discuss best practices in initiating and maintaining a strong youth philanthropy program.