5 Ways to Nurture & Grow Generosity in Your Children 

As you’ve taught and modeled to your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews valuable lessons Good news. Humans are naturally inclined toward generosity. According to a white paper published by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley on the Science of Generosity, “Children [as young as toddlers] appear to have an innate drive to cooperate and help others, but this drive becomes more selective and nuanced as they grow older.” 

Raising children to be generous, financially responsible, and connected to their community requires intention and a plan.  

5 Tips to Nurture Generosity 

1. Reflect on Your Own Experiences 

Think back to times in your life when you or your family benefitted from the generosity of others. Consider the kindness of a neighbor, the warmth of a grandparent, the support of a friend, the guidance of a spiritual leader, or the assistance from a nonprofit organization. Take time to recall and document these instances, capturing how these acts of generosity shaped your experiences and influenced your path. Share these meaningful stories with your children, helping them understand the power of kindness and the importance of giving back. 

2. Share Stories and experiences of Giving with Your Children 

These memories, no matter how small, are valuable examples to share with your children. It could be when your family faced hard times and received help, or maybe you or your ancestors moved to a new country and found support. Encourage your children to think about moments when others have helped them and bring them along as you help others. For younger children, The Giving Book by Ellen Sabin is a great way to start introducing these ideas. Additionally, you can look to your own spiritual or religious traditions to find meaningful stories of giving.  

3. Celebrate and Notice Acts of Generosity 

Make generosity tangible by creating a “Helping Jar.” This interactive activity encourages family members to celebrate acts of kindness and support within your community. Whenever anyone lends a hand to someone in need, receives assistance, or observes a generous act, they can drop a coin into the jar. Invite visiting family and friends to join the activity, turning it into a communal effort. 

As the jar fills up, it serves as a visual reminder of the kindness in your lives and as a catalyst for meaningful conversations about giving. Once it’s full, gather together as a family to discuss and brainstorm ways to use the collected funds to assist others in your community or support a cause that’s meaningful to all of you. This practice transforms simple actions of generosity into a rewarding ritual, fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to helping those around you. It’s an impactful way to weave generosity into the fabric of your family’s life, inspiring everyone to be more mindful and proactive in their efforts to make a difference. 

4. Let Your Children Lead 

Allow your children to discover what they care about and let them take the lead in their giving. Younger generations increasingly seek purpose and meaning. Guide them toward understanding that they can contribute to making the world a better place—for themselves and others. Remind them that the issues we face do not create divisions of “us” versus “them;” rather, they unite us in a shared responsibility of “we.”  

Encourage their engagement with the Time, Talent, Treasure, and Ties tool, developed collaboratively by 21/64 and the Foundation. This valuable tool will help them understand, share, and harness their unique gifts, fostering a sense of community and collective impact that transcends boundaries. By nurturing their ability to lead in giving, we cultivate responsible individuals and compassionate leaders of tomorrow.  

5. Build a Community Around Generosity 

Surround your family with others who share your values of generosity and community connection. This could include your extended family, friends, neighbors, or families you meet through schools, faith institutions, or organizations like Greater Houston Community Foundation. The more diverse your group, the better. What connects you is the shared value of generosity and community caring. 

Ready to dive deeper? Explore the 21/64 “Growing Goodness” tool and then connect with our Center for Family Philanthropy to explore the next steps in creating a personalized strategy for your family. 

Center for Family Philanthropy

Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy is a national leader in advising families in the stewardship of philanthropy and community impact across generations. How? We provide families with best-in-class resources, education, programming, and peer connection through a variety of initiatives.  

Family Giving Circle & Youth Leadership

The Family Giving Circle is a learning opportunity for families and youth to learn, volunteer, and grant together in the greater Houston area. The Family Giving Circle is led by the Youth Leadership Team, a peer network of students (grades 7th-10th) who are interested in learning about the nonprofit landscape and how to be a thoughtful and strategic grantmaker. This leadership opportunity is a great way for youth to develop their values, independent thinking, decision-making power, community knowledge, and leadership skills. Youth Leaders will gain a better understanding of making grants to nonprofits and develop deeper relationships with nonprofits in the community. 

“As our family grew, it was important to me and my husband, Chris, that our children grow up knowing that philanthropy is an essential part of our family’s identity,” said Jennifer Laporte, Center for Family Philanthropy Advisory Committee Member. “The Center for Family Philanthropy (CFP) provides us with a way to intentionally learn together and expose them to the needs of our city at an early age. In addition, the CFP gave us the opportunity to serve as a family, allowing us to have meaningful conversations about our experience.”

Quarterly Volunteer Days

Volunteering is an invaluable experience for children, helping them develop a sense of empathy, teamwork, and social responsibility from a young age. Our Quarterly Volunteer Day program is tailored for families with children aged five and older, offering a variety of engaging, age-appropriate activities that make giving back fun and meaningful. By participating together, families can foster a spirit of generosity and compassion, while children learn important life skills such as cooperation and leadership.  

Empowering Future Philanthropic Leaders

At the Foundation, we’re passionate about helping families—especially the youngest members—turn their dreams of giving into reality. Together, let’s cultivate a new generation of compassionate, purpose-driven philanthropists who are eager to make a difference in the world. Dive in, have fun, and watch how these small lessons in generosity can create lasting impacts for both your family and the community. 

Looking to get started? Contact Greater Houston Community Foundation today at 713-333-2200 or connect with us online to start a discussion.  

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:

• 3 Tips for Keeping Your Advisors in the Loop for Maximum Impact
• The Community Connector: Arcy Muñoz
• The Surprising Benefits of Philanthropy on Your Well-being
• What Are Qualified Charitable Distributions?
• Building Futures: Harris County’s Historic Investment in Early Childhood

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