Five Tips to Encourage Your Teen to Give Back

1. Let your teens choose. Help your teens identify a cause or organization that supports something they are passionate about. For instance, if your son loves animals, encourage him to volunteer time or contribute money to the local animal shelter.
2. Check out different organizations. Kids treasure every penny they have, so they’ll want to know their money is being put to good use. Suggest that your teens find out how certain nonprofit groups use their funds and if they qualify as charitable organizations. You can find a lot of useful information online at sites like www.charitynavigator.org or www.give.org.
3. Stay local. Choosing a charity that is close to home makes the support more tangible—your teens can actually visit the organization to see firsthand how their support helps.
4. Match the donation dollar for dollar. Nothing encourages your teens to give more than seeing you do so as well. So, support both the organization and your children by matching the donation.
5. Make philanthropy a family affair. Volunteer together and make decisions as a family about how to allocate your family’s charitable contributions.

Giving back is not just about money. Your teens can also devote time and skills by volunteering for a worthy cause or charity.

For more information, articles and resources on raising charitable kids and incorporating philanthropy into your financial plan, visit the Schwab Charitable™ website at www.schwabcharitable.org.

Schwab Charitable™ is the name used for the combined programs and services of the Schwab Charitable Fund™ and Charitable Trust Services. Schwab Charitable Fund is the operating name of the Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving®, an independent nonprofit organization. Schwab Charitable Trust Services is a limited liability company owned by the Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving that provides trustee services for charitable trusts. The Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving has entered into service agreements with certain affiliates of The Charles Schwab Corporation (Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.). It is an independent nonprofit organization.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The type of savings and investment strategies mentioned may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review a security transaction or strategy for his or her own particular situation. The examples mentioned are for informational purposes only and not intended to represent results you should expect in the future. Data contained here is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.