Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement

Objectives:

• To introduce young people to the time, talent, and treasure they have to give to a variety of organizations and causes looking for support
• To help young people make good decisions about giving their time, talent, and treasure
  

Activity Theme:

“When you care enough to send your very best.”

~ Hallmark® Greeting Card Company

 

Activity:

The facilitator asks the participants to sit in chairs in a circle and explains to them that they are going to call out various activities. If the participants have done the activity, they are to move to the seat to the left of them. Those who have not done the mentioned activity should stay seated. Of course, this means that someone might end up sitting in your lap, or you might end up on someone else lap. It could mean that you have 3-4 people “piled up” in a chair in each other’s laps!

The facilitator begins: “Move to the left if you have…”

• volunteered at a library
• worked with some type of project to protect the environment
• tutored others to help them improve their knowledge
• read to younger children
• volunteered at a Boys & Girls Club
• been involved in a project to help a victim of prejudice

The facilitator asks the participants to return to their seats.

DISCUSSION
The facilitator explains that now that the young people have assumed the role of philanthropist they will be asked to give of their time, talent, and treasure by a variety of organizations and causes. It is important to be selective about this involvement. Philanthropists generally give to those causes they deeply believe in — those that match their personal mission. For instance some famous philanthropists and their causes are:

• Andrew Carnegie cared about libraries and wanted to make sure all citizens had access to books.
• Rockefeller Family cared about the environment and wanted to make sure future generations have a healthy world of beauty.
• Bill Gates cares about education and wants children to have access to the best tools for education.
• Oprah Winfrey cares about literacy and wants to make sure all children can read.
• Denzel Washington cares about Boys and Girls Clubs and wants to make sure all children have a safe place to grow and learn.
• Steven Spielberg cares about Holocaust History and wants to make sure that we never forget about those subjected to prejudice and ill treatment.

The facilitator explains that, just like these famous philanthropists, the participants will spend time looking into causes and organizations, both locally and nationally, they care about and have an opportunity to support. The purpose of the day is to give the participants the information they need to determine to whom they want to give their time, talent and treasure.

RESEARCH AND INFORMATION
The facilitator shows the participants the information he/she has gathered for today’s meeting. This might include several phonebooks, the United Way Directory, Directory of Non-Profits in the city obtained from the local Chamber of Commerce, lists that the public library has compiled. Participants should be divided into groups with each group taking a resource and each participant having the Selection Guide handout. Participants in the group need to become familiar with the resource and then should look through it “for their eyes-only.” They need to be looking for those organizations whose mission is one they really care about. Other members of the group can assist each other. Example:

A participant might have a love for animals. They should be looking for organizations and/or causes which address that issue: local humane shelter, local humane society, Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, National Humane Society, Boy Scout Explorer troop on Care of Animals, list of veterinarians they might want to talk to, Cooperative Extension/4-H.

Groups rotate through each resource, gathering information for their mission. This information is placed on the Selection Guide Form. After each group has had an opportunity to investigate the resources and filled out the Selection Guide, the facilitator asks them to share in their small group what the issues were they cared about and what causes they found that they are willing to “give their very best to.” If the group is small, sharing can be done in a large group.

 

Processing:

After participants have shared with the group the causes they care about, ask them to make a list of things they might do over the next month for those organizations. Finally, ask the participants to gather more information by telephoning and requesting information about how they might be involved, by writing and requesting informa¬tion, by browsing the Internet for Websites for these causes or for others to explore.

Application: