Birmingham can be proud to top the list of most charitable cities in a national comparison released last year by the Tijeras Foundation. We can brag about ranking 14th for our rate of volunteerism on a list compiled by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

At a time when our nation pauses to count our blessings, we also can give thanks for the people who make these wonderful statistics possible – almost 300,000 volunteers and many more thousands of generous people who give to their schools, their religious institutions, to charitable organizations and to their neighbors in need.

In embarking on its study, the Tijeras Foundation was looking for common factors among the top cities in their study as a way to determine common threads that seem to create a generous community.  But one vital component has to be the influence of each generation in passing on charitable values to the next.

What can you do to educate and inspire the next generation of philanthropists? Experts agree that, as with most teaching, the surest way is by example. Here are five suggestions, based on national studies and our own experience at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.

Bring up the subject. The upcoming holidays offer plenty of opportunities for conversation, one on one or across the table. Ask your children, your siblings, your parents to share stories of what they care about, why they care and what they are doing or hope to do to make a difference. Ask what non-profit organizations and activities affect your neighborhood, your work, your children's schools and the leisure activities you enjoy most. What would happen if these were not available to you? What happens to families and children who don’t have these services and benefits?

Make a will – and involve your family in the discussion. In light of the current economy, you might challenge the original estimates by Boston College's John J. Havens and Paul Schervish that more than $41 trillion in wealth will be transferred to younger generations by 2052. Whatever the figure, the fact is that the passing of generations is real and unstoppable. You can set the stage to pass on your values as well as your assets by the choices you make in your estate plan and how you make your wishes, hopes and dreams known to those you love.

Volunteer. Supporting a nonprofit organization, a religious organization, your favorite school or a neighborhood center with your time and talent is a great way to get the information you need to be more strategic with any money you decide to give. And the hours you provide in service can help to bridge a gap in operational dollars, especially during these hard economic times.

For the young people in your life, volunteering provides opportunities to gain life skills, whether they support an individual organization or provide support for a variety of needs through Scouting, a religious group or a nonprofit dedicated to placing volunteers, such as Hands On Birmingham or YouthServe. In addition, studies show that young people who volunteer gain a perspective that makes them give and volunteer more when they become adults. 

Make giving decisions as a family. Through a Family Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, parents and grandparents can engage the next generation in choosing which nonprofit organizations to benefit.  Community Foundation staff can facilitate family meetings or set up site visits to organizations of interest.  If you set your own charitable budget each year, making philanthropy a priority and consulting with professional advisors about creative ways to use a variety of assets, this important value will remain important in your life and in generations to come.

Practice creative gift giving, especially for the loved one who seems to “have it all.” You can set an example by choosing to honor others with a gift to charity that lasts long after the last tie has been unwrapped.  Involve your children in deciding what charity would be the perfect fit, and in addressing the acknowledgment card that you include with your holiday greeting.

Do you have other tips that have worked for you? Let us know, so we can share them and keep our community spirit of generosity strong for future generations.