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We are a leading charity, working at the centre of the giving world. We help donors to give more impactfully and charities to build their resilience so they can do more of their life-changing work.
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Lindsey Marden
Private Client Manager, CADF
Many individuals want to make giving a family tradition – whether to create a lasting legacy, teach values, or embark on a shared project. Family and friends play a crucial role in shaping how children see the world, and philanthropy can be an inspiring way to model generosity in the next generation.
Starting open conversations about charitable giving can instil lasting values, build empathy, and spark an enduring interest in making a difference. In this blog, we explore why these conversations matter and how to approach them meaningfully.
Through our work with donors, we know that philanthropy is an incredibly personal act that can reveal so much about a person — their motivations and their priorities. Discussing this information can deepen family connections, helping loved ones better understand your values.
Involving your grandchildren and children in giving decisions teaches valuable lessons about the value of money, privilege and responsibility. It helps them recognise that not everyone has the same opportunities – and that generosity can make a real difference.
Generosity has been shown to strengthen communities, provide valuable support to individuals, and boost personal wellbeing. Research from our UK Giving Report 2025 shows that 20% of people give to charity because it simply makes them feel good – a reminder that charitable giving can benefit both the recipient and the giver.
Talking to the next generation about charitable giving is particularly important now, as those aged between 18-40 are set to be the most significant charitable donors in history. Known as ‘Next Gen’ donors, they are expected to inherit an estimated £5.5 trillion in the UK within the next 30 years as part of “The Great Wealth Transfer”. Helping them develop thoughtful giving habits today is a powerful investment in their future impact.
Talking to your children about the ways you give back and some of the organisations you support is a great way to start. Discuss why you think giving is important and share stories about the organisations you have supported, and what you have learned along the way. These personal reflections help ground the conversation and encourage your family to think and reflect how it feels to give and receive support.
You may want to consider a dedicated philanthropic budget that your children can help allocate. Many families we advise give their children control over specific funds so they can explore causes they care about, experiment with giving strategies, and see the results of their decisions. For younger children, encouraging them to set aside a portion of their allowance for charitable giving can be a powerful first step in reinforcing the value of generosity.
Direct experiences can leave a lasting impression. For example, one CAF client who is actively engaging her young children took the whole family on a trip to Thailand to visit one of the schools for migrant children they had been funding, helping them understand the impact of their giving early on.
For older children and young adults, look for common ground and areas of shared interest. Attitudes to philanthropy are changing, and many young adult donors are drawn to approaches like impact investing or mechanisms that allow them to choose both social or environmental and financial returns which deliver results and impact in their lifetime.
Emotion is often the biggest motivator for charitable giving and being emotionally connected can often motivate people to do more. While recognising the importance of emotional connection, at CAF we encourage our clients to also be strategic with their charitable giving, to maximise their impact.
One couple we work with have done just that. Having long supported causes close to their heart, they invited their daughters – both in their twenties – to join in their charitable giving and they are making decisions as a family on what causes they donate to.
They came to us to discuss how to support a health issue they have personally experienced and chose a charity they all felt connected to, Wellbeing of Women. To amplify their impact, they created a three-year commitment: donations to this charity from their daughters’ Charity Account will be matched from the family's Charitable Trust. While they still make separate decisions about other donations, they share a commitment to this particular charity.
By raising young people with a passion for charity, we instil values that will positively impact their lives and the lives of others around them. When we cultivate generosity in the young, we foster empathy, strengthen our communities and give individuals an invaluable gift that can last a lifetime.
If you would like to discuss how we can support your family conversations about philanthropy, please get in touch with our team who will be pleased to help. You can read more about practical tips on how to teach your children about charity here.
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