Engaging the Next Generation in Philanthropy this International Youth Day

Marked annually by the United Nations on August 12th, International Youth Day celebrates the role young people play in driving social change and encourages fresh thinking about how they’re included in decisions that shape the future. It is a good time for philanthropic families to consider how the next generation is being brought into the practice of giving. As significant wealth continues to move between generations, the donors who navigate this well are the ones who treat younger members as active participants in their philanthropy well before any formal handover takes place.

Here are three ways advisors and families can approach next-generation engagement.

 

Start with shared values

Next-generation donors tend to think about giving as inseparable from the rest of their lives, looking for consistency between the causes they support, how they invest, and the choices they make day-to-day. Before introducing any charitable vehicle, it is worth making time for a values conversation across generations: which issues matter most, where do views align or differ, and what does the family want its giving to stand for. Getting this right early on means any vehicle the family goes on to use is built around a shared sense of purpose.

 

Give them a working role, not just a future one

The earlier engagement can happen, the better. Involving younger family members in reviewing grant recommendations, meeting grantees, or discussing which causes to prioritise builds real fluency ahead of any transition. A donor-advised fund supports this naturally, since multiple family members can be named as advisors on a single account, allowing decisions to be made jointly while older generations retain oversight.

 

Use a DAF as a flexible way in

A DAF also gives families an easy way to formalise next-generation involvement as confidence grows. Additional advisors can be added to an account over time, grant recommendations can be made collaboratively, and the family’s giving can evolve to reflect new interests, from climate and environmental causes to more hands-on, impact-focused giving, without needing to unwind or restructure an existing vehicle.

International Youth Day is a timely reminder of what’s possible when families open their philanthropy to the next generation early: a shared sense of purpose that can carry on for decades to come. To find out more about how NPT UK can help, contact us.