a guide to help parents motivate and empower their teens to be philanthropic.

1. Jewish Communal Fund
Family Philanthropy:
Tzedakah Tools and Tips for Parents

2. The Parents’ RoleThe Parents’ Role
• MODEL
• SHARE
• REFLECT
• LISTEN
• RESPECT
• SUPPORT
• STRUCTURE
• REINFORCE

3. Actions speak louder than words
so model the engagement you would like to see –
Let your kids see what you do for charities, show
them the satisfaction you derive from your
philanthropy.

4. Connect with Tradition
During Shabbat or
dinner conversations,
share family memories
and history of earlier
generations and their
chesed and charitable work.
Family traditions of tzedakah

5. Share and ReflectShare and Reflect
Discuss your motivation for supporting your charities.
Talk about why you give!
Independence Tradition Maot Chitim
“All Israel is responsible one for another”
Chesed Equality Justice

6. Find the teachable moments
and uncover the values behind your giving.
Connecting values with actions helps
kids understand the significance of your
philanthropy.

7. Listen to your children
and learn about their
interests and concerns.
Nurture these interests
even if they are
different than yours.

8. Learn from your teenLearn from your teen
Explain how you choose your charities.
Ask your teen how they make funding decisions.
What are their priorities?
Let them educate you.

9. Respect Their Ideas
• Don’t dismiss your
child’s idea even if you
don’t see the value.
• Look for the shared
values behind their
choices and yours.
• Praise their interests
and compassion.

10. Support Your Teen’s EffortSupport Your Teen’s Effort
Show interest and ask
questions.
Set aside a portion of
your philanthropic
dollars to support
your child’s charities.
Offer matching gifts

11. Acknowledge Accomplishments
Making a contribution
in your child’s honor
to their favorite charity
is a great way to recognize:
Bar & Bat Mitzvahs
Awards
Graduations
and other achievements

12. Interweave Tzedakah into daily life
Holidays are filled
with giving traditions
and opportunities, so
incorporate tzedakah
into your celebration.
Make a gift in honor of
your children.
Celebrate Jewish
holidays, Mother’s Day,
Father’s Day and
birthdays by
asking your child to
make a donation in
your honor.

13. Use a formal structure
Form a Family Tzedakah CircleForm a Family Tzedakah Circle
Everyone is responsible for researching an issue or a charity.
Everyone has a voice and gets to vote on where to make the
contributions.

14. Set Goals
• Discuss a giving
goal that can help
focus your family on
tzedakah.
• Ask your teen to help
the family decide
how much to give
each year.
• Create a timetable
for when donations will
be given.
• Include an action plan
detailing the steps
necessary to reach the
goal, and list who is
responsible.

15. What’s Next: Reinforce the Experience
 Help teens find engagement opportunities that can utilize
their new skills and support their interest in philanthropy.
 Seek service opportunities for teens as well as families.
 Establish an independent charitable fund for your teen.