Independent Sector - 1999 National Survey

Childhood Events and Philanthropic Behavior

Personal motivations and experience are often indicators and predictors of philanthropic behavior. Often events that occurred in the respondents’ youth were very important to future giving and volunteering behavior.

Various Events from Youth and Giving and Volunteering
Behavior as Adults: 1999

Respondents with very high rates of reporting household contributions were those who reported the following experiences in their youth:

· were active in student government (82% reported household contributions)

· volunteered (80% reported household contributions)

· were active in religious organizations (79% reported household contributions)

· members of youth groups (77% reported household contributions)

· had always wanted to make significant changes in society (77% reported household contributions)

· went door to door to raise money for a cause (78% reported household contributions)

· saw a person they admired who was not a family member help others (76% reported household contributions) .

Among those respondents who reported that one or both of their parents had set an example and volunteered when they were young, 69% volunteered as adults and 75% reported having made a charitable contribution. Parental encouragement and involvement was important in helping to build the habit of volunteering and to continue the spirit of volunteering across generations.