Sometimes, opportunities to give are not totally obvious. We talk a lot about giving financially. And we hear about opportunities to volunteer all the time. But what other ways can we help others? What else can we share?

How about our talent?

In addition to money and time, nonprofits have specific needs that others can help them with by providing expertise. Children’s ‘expertise’ and interests might change as often as the seasons, but we can help our kids find opportunities to use their talent for the good of others. For many, this form of giving can be extremely rewarding because we’re not only helping those that we care about, we are using our personal skills to do it. More

If you’re looking for a way to infuse giving into your family’s culture, consider committing as a group to a Monthly Family Give. You can sit down now and plan out the year or decide on your ‘give’ from month to month, just be sure that once you make the commitment you follow through. Before you know it, helping others in your community will become second nature!

Here are a few ways your family can come together once a month to help others and get involved in your community: More

TAG Question of the Week

If you start poking around on the internet looking at the need in your community, it can become a little overwhelming. This week, we were thinking about families that would like to host a Charitable Birthday Party and pulled together a list of Columbia nonprofits that have wish lists of items that party attendees could bring in lieu of a typical party gift. While we at TAG live in the nonprofit world every day, seeing our list of worthy organizations representing urgent needs right here in our backyard caused us to pause. We want to help them ALL! More

TAG Question of the Week

We know that there are so many different ways to give. And in many cases our efforts aren’t or can’t be spontaneous our impulsive. Getting involved in a movement can involve significant organization and preparation. We don’t stroke a check without considering our finances and we don’t just decide to jump on a plane to Haiti tomorrow to help build a school. There are ways to give that require significant planning and those that do not. Both are of equal importance and it’s important that our children understand the difference and why.

So while financial giving and major, planned efforts are extremely important, there are lots of things we can do right now that do not involve considering year-end recommendations from our accountant or require extreme organizations, effort or time. More

It’s Saturday, and it’s raining. In fact, it’s been raining for the last three days straight. Or perhaps it’s too hot or too chilly – it was a warm winter, huh? But today it’s chilly! Either way, your plans for a day outside, and your kids’ cabin fever might be steadily rising. Everyone has lost interest in watching tv, but it’s still blaring, a steady background to the chorus of brother-and-sisterly bickering.

We’ve all had days like this. We all know how frustrating it is to watch your kids unravel because they’re bored. The solution? Help your kids shift the focus from themselves to others with a quick “kitchen table project.” Using these everyday moments at home to micro-volunteer is an easy way to do some good and remind your kids what really matters. More

We talk a lot about activities and ideas for influencing philanthropic hearts and behaviors in our children. The root of Talk About Giving, however, is just that. TALKING about your efforts to help others so your children are aware and the value is passed on. Research indicates that we’re just not talking about it. In that spirit, we have an activity for you moms and dads! You get to attend a fun event, eat amazing food and taste delicious wines – all the while, supporting your community. And then you get to go home and tell your children about the fun you had while doing good for others. More

It’s Spring Break season and many of the children we know are out of school this week. Looking for an activity that’s not only fun, but will motivate and empower your kids to make a difference? Suggest a fundraiser!

Regardless of the scope of the benefit, whether it’s an afternoon project or a full-scale event, kids will likely need some help and guidance in pulling together a successful fundraiser. Here are some tips in assisting them. More

For whatever reason, we have a tendency to judge those who are less fortunate or different in some way. And as our society struggles with bullying, we are more and more aware that this starts at an early age.

Fortunately as parents and mentors we have opportunity to influence our children’s ‘compassion meters’ and there are numerous ways we can do this. Not only will they be better for it, but the world will be a sweeter place. Here are some tips and ideas:

1. Point out examples. There are acts of compassion everywhere. Be sure your kids notice! You might see it on TV, in a book or in person. Or maybe someone you know has done something kind for someone else. Tell your children about it.
2. Nip potential false impressions in the bud. All homeless people are not alcoholics. Children whose parents are unable to care for them are just as deserving as we are. Every drug addict is not a bad person. Kids with special needs are not less worthy of our friendship. Feel free to guide your children as they’re formulating their opinions of others. More

TAG Question of the Week

Recent research studies published indicate that children (as young as 15 months!) are naturally altruistic and generous. What’s even better? Environment plays a role in this, so we do have the power to influence our children and their behaviors in terms of how they think of and treat others.

Recognizing need is an important lesson that, if handled properly, can teach a lot about empathy and our ability to make a difference in the life of others. And as parents, grandparents or mentors,  sometimes the trick is helping children understand that recognizing need does not mean judging or thinking of themselves as ‘better.’  More

So you’re looking for a way to pull your family together for some meaningful quality time. What next? Here are some tips and ideas to help you and your kids get the most out of your volunteer efforts.

1. Plan as a family

We know from research that including children in the conversation – the rhyme behind the reason – of our philanthropic efforts helps them understand why it’s important to us and gets them thinking about what is important to them and why. Explain why you feel it’s important that you volunteer as a family and the impact that it can have on our lives and the lives of others. More