Episode #152
I’ve heard from several people about the need to teach our kids how to be philanthropic. So when Peter Raffa told me his story, I got excited and asked if he’d share the story with you…he said yes. 🙂
In today’s movie, you’ll not only learn about a great way to teach kids philanthropy, but you’ll also learn the reason behind why a nonprofit lost a donor. …It’s a very common reason why donors stop giving to an organization.
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A correction from Peter:
“Regarding today’s video: The quote “to whom much is given much is expected” is a Biblical one and Jesus said it first, not J.F.K.. Regardless, it remains a wonderful message. Thanks.”
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If you have some tips, lessons, or stories on helping children learn philanthropy, please share them with others in the comment box under the video. Thanks.
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If you have some tips, lessons, or stories on helping children learn philanthropy, please share them with others in the comment box. Thanks. 🙂
I was once working with a very wealthy family that was Jewish. The tradition of Sedaka is that 1/3 goes to charity. The very precocious 9 year old son asked his father, “Do you give 1/3 of your income to charity?” The panicked father replied, “Net or gross?” The son replied, “I hear some stalling going on.” In our next chat, the father said that he only gave 6%. The father and son negotiated. The father agreed to up his giving to 10% and lower his son’s to the same. Children learn from what they see us do.
Also, for Christmas, have asked my grandsons to do something nice for someone else and to tell me about it. My husband has asked them to bring a favorite book to read together and share why they liked the book.
There are many simple ways to share the joy of giving with the children in our lives.
Carol Weisman, author of “Raising Charitable Children”
This is a beautiful reminder of what philanthropy is all about (and I missed it the first time). Thank you, Chris and Peter!
Peter’s taught more than Taylor about joyful and strategic philanthropy! Our whole region is better off because of his love for his work. Thanks for sharing this one again, Christopher.
Just recently had a wonderful experience through one of our Trustees and her son: Trustee was making thank you calls to donors during our annual appeal time emphasizing the “Giving Tuesday” concept and her college age son overheard one of her conversations. He asked what it was about, she explained everything to her and her son made a very nice on line contribution on Giving Tuesday to our agency! The power of sharing information like this is amazing. I should also mention that this exercise for our trustees was spurred by a matching gift opportunity for each contribution made on line on 12/3, the donor pledged to match the amount up to $20,000….so, mom’s contribution was matched, son’s contribution was matched and other on line contributions made that day were matched as well….awesome leverage, awesome lesson and awesome experience for our not for profit!
Although the daughter learned many good things from her father, I noticed one part of the lesson that disturbed me. It seemed that your satisfaction should come from supporting a good cause not by how much you are appreciated. His daughter was ready to give to the first charity again. Her reason for giving was pure, but Dad felt she needed to be appreciated. Jesus also taught us that being appreciated is not the important thing!
While that is true we all know that there are three reasons donors stop giving to organizations,. They are not thanked in a timely fashion, you don’t tell them what you did with their money before you ask them again and they do not feel appreciated. I’m not sure how far organizations will get if they never sent a thank you letter or call?
That is a fascinating point, Kay and Peter. Ideally, we shouldn’t give to be appreciated. But as fundraisers, we focus on making sure people know the impact of their gift, and we get to work on securing that second gift. On the one hand, it is common decency to say thank you. On the other hand, we look to science to see what actions will trigger a desired behavior from donors.
I have to agree, Kay. That bothered me. A LOT. Giving should be taught as something you do to help, not to be recognized. As a mom to a 10 year old, I had several instances this school year where perceived slights bugged my husband and I immensely and my son shrugged them off. Big lesson for mom and dad not to impose our angst and pet peeves onto our kid. You don’t want them walked all over, but you also want them to sometimes give people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it was the npo’s policy not to receipt below a certain level (and this program staff person didn’t know that) or maybe there was a staff change. Still not acceptable, I know. It would be a better lesson for her and this npo to let them know what happened soon after or that next year when she wanted to give again. Did she want to pick a new charity when you posed those questions? Or did you ask her to?
Great message from Peter. Indeed, philanthropy is carefully taught. Thanks to Peter, Taylor, and you (Chris) we all continue to learn. Thank you!
Tammy
Hi Peter! Someone on my team subscribes to this blog, liked your advice and recommended I check it out. What a wonderful surprise to see you doling out great advice. Hope you are well and your new year is off to a great start.
Warm regards – Candice
Very good advice! Now, how to stretch that recognition out that far without library books is my challenge!
Great story and Peter is a great Dad for instilling those values in his daughter! However, one correction from the video. The words “to much is given, much is expected” did not originate from J.F. Kennedy, but instead those were the words of Jesus from Luke 12:48 – “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” Thanks for the inspiration!
The best! I have been a subscriber for several years and have never been compelled to make comment. However, this was the best video feature- ever. What an incredible way to teach the importance of giving to children. And, for highlighting the often overlooked courtesy of properly thanking a donor. Well done….and thank you to everyone involved in creating and sharing this story. This video should be a tedtalk.
In the video the presenter indicated that John F Kennedy initiated the phrase “To whom much is given, much will be required” It actually is from the Bible in the book of Luke 12:48 .
Jesus said: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48)
“To whom much is given much is required,” did not originate with Kennedy. Try Jesus. Luke 12:48.