What is "philanthropy education"?
Based on research-based standards, philanthropy education teaches about civil society and empowers personal action. Young people of all ages learn about their communities and how they can help others with their time and talent – their unique gift. Giving promotes happiness and purpose, while teaching the givers that they are a vital part of something bigger. Let's help them envision their future based on unlimited options and through the power of the nonprofit sector.
New to teaching philanthropy? Here are some things that can help you get started:
1. Discuss and Practice the Power of Philanthropy
- Teach a philanthropy lesson based on your interests and the issues kids care about.
- Explore interests, issues and activities, such as simple service projects and literature guides.
- Get to know nonprofits in your community with our Open Doors to Your Community guides.
- Show our 3-minute whiteboard videos that clearly define and inspire philanthropic action.
- Read stories of youth taking action.
- Put philanthropy practice into your calendar with themes by month such as International Day of Peace, Martin Luther King, Jr, Day, or Earth Day.
2. Build Your Background Knowledge
- Professional Mini-Courses from your desktop teach fundamentals of philanthropy, service-learning, and ways to engage youth. Upon completion of a mini-course (less than 45 minutes), take a quiz and earn a certificate.
- Preview the framework of philanthropy education in Learning to Give's international philanthropy standards. These were developed by scholars of philanthropy and nonprofit practitioners.
- Read about people, concepts, and organizations of philanthropy in our White Papers. These are written and updated by graduate students in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership programs at IUPUI and GVSU.
- These evaluations may be completed by facilitators, families, community partners, and youth. They may be used in conjunction with any Learning to Give activity, lesson, toolkit, or resource. The goal is to help you collect information about the impact of your philanthropy and service-learning instruction.
3. Connect with Other Philanthropy Educators
- Read Learning to Give stories of empowered young people. You, too, could be featured on this page!
- Our social media @Learningtogive features voices and inspirational stories. Stay engaged with your peers and get great ideas.
- Learning to Give has a YouTube Channel. This YouTube channel "Educator Perspectives" features the voices of people who inspire youth empowerment.
4. Take a tour of the Learning to Give website:
Educate, Equip, and Empower Youth for a Better World
The three pages below
are designed to guide youth as they build self and community awareness and skills of engagement. Choose one or two activities from each page so youth learn through knowledge and experience they are a vital part of something bigger.