For many Omaha families, giving back is part of their identity, something learned from previous generations and passed on to the next. Teaching and practicing philanthropy as a family can solidify family values and develop community connections across generations. 

As families prepare to spend time together in the coming weeks, parents and grandparents have a unique opportunity to bring philanthropy into the conversation. Discussing giving back, community impact, and personal values can help families align values, build traditions, and start a legacy. 

For advisors and CPAs, encouraging these conversations is both timely and effective. Stacie Neussendorfer, Senior Lead Advisor at Foster Group, notes, “Several recent studies have shown that clients want their advisors to discuss charitable giving with them, so the first step is to have that conversation.” 

These conversations often start with simple actions. Families can start with: 

  • Discussing the causes they care about  
  • Visiting a local nonprofit 
  • Volunteer together to gain a firsthand understanding of community needs 

Neussendorfer adds, “I love the idea of teaching the next generation to give, and one of the easiest ways is by using a fund at the Omaha Community Foundation. We have grandparents who are using these to teach their grandchildren by bringing them together and allocating each grandchild a certain amount to give to a charity of their choice each year.” 

Experiences like these bring families closer while nurturing the next generation’s understanding of philanthropy. “The grandchildren get to spend time with their grandparents and cousins, learning about different charitable organizations while establishing a pattern of giving,” Neussendorfer says. “While there may be many animal-related recipients among the younger grandchildren, as they grow and develop different interests, it is fun to see the various types of charities each child chooses to support.” 

Some families are taking these lessons further by giving through their OCF funds to local nonprofits during the holidays rather than exchanging traditional gifts. Whether through shared experiences or new giving structures, the key is intentional communication. As Neussendorfer summarizes, “This is a great way to get started on including children or the next generation, but what it really boils down to is talking with your family members about helping others and what causes are important to them.” 

OCF provides flexible, local tools that make multigenerational giving easy to structure and manage: 

  • Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) allow families to make giving decisions together and name children or grandchildren as successor advisors. 
  • Field of Interest Funds connect giving to specific issue areas, helping younger generations see the collective impact of pooled philanthropy. 
  • Generation-Skipping Trusts can preserve wealth and charitable intent across generations while providing potential tax advantages. 

Whether families want to introduce children or grandchildren to philanthropy, create a long-term structure for family giving, or simplify their charitable plans, OCF offers expert support and local insight. 

To learn more about how we can help make giving part of your or your clients’ family legacy, contact the Omaha Community Foundation’s Donor Services team at giving@omahafoundatoin.org or visit omahafoundation.org