Podcast Episode Details

Make Giving a Family Affair With Jeanne McMains

Episode 241

Jeanne McMains, Executive Vice President of Offerings and Marketing at the National Christian Foundation.For more than 25 years, she’s helped families create a fun and lasting giving experience.

[1:00]

HOW CAN FAMILIES ENHANCE THEIR GIVING PRACTICES DURING THE HOLIDAYS?

• Create a thriving family giving culture by engaging in generosity activities together.
• Right size the giving experience to suit children or grandchildren’s capacity to understand and participate.
• Cultivate a culture of grace, allowing the family’s giving practices to develop organically over time.

[1:54]

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF RIGHT SIZING THE GIVING EXPERIENCE?

• A single mother overwhelmed her daughter with a large monetary gift and extensive instructions, leading to disappointment.
• A father gave his children a substantial amount of money to donate, but was dissatisfied with their choices, highlighting the need to balance generosity with practicality.
• The key is helping children find joy in giving according to their interests, not overwhelming them with complexity or high expectations.

[3:36]

HOW CAN FAMILIES STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE GIVING INTERESTS?

• Create ‘we and me’ spaces: allowing individual family members to support their own passions while also contributing to shared family values.
• Engage in fun activities, like card games, to discuss values and charitable impacts as a family.
• Encourage personal and collective journeys in generosity, fostering family bonds and shared values.

[6:35]

WHAT ROLE DOES FRAMEWORK PLAY IN FAMILY GIVING?

• Utilize a framework to set clear guidelines and expectations for family giving discussions.
• Jeanne shares examples of successful frameworks, like employer match programs, to inspire family giving strategies.
• Encourage both ‘we’ and ‘me’ spaces within the framework to cater to individual passions and shared values. 

[9:02]

HOW CAN FAMILIES ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN GIVING?

• Involve children in giving, regardless of their age, through simple, adaptable strategies.
• Jeanne shares a  three-step question process to guide children in choosing causes and organizations to support.
• Encourage a focus on how organizations share the gospel, integrating faith and generosity.

[11:35]

WHAT ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES CAN FAMILIES USE TO ENHANCE THEIR GIVING EXPERIENCE?

• Share responsibilities in the giving process, involving all family members according to their abilities and interests.
• Encourage a variety of participation methods, from researching causes to connecting with charities.
• Celebrate giving as a joyful and meaningful family activity, incorporating elements of fun and festivity.

HOW CAN FAMILIES ENSURE THAT THEIR GIVING PRACTICES REFLECT CHRISTIAN VALUES?

• Focus on the fruits of the Spirit, ensuring that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control are present in giving discussions and actions.
• Regularly assess whether the family’s giving culture promotes these values, making adjustments as necessary.
• Celebrate and pursue these fruits in the family’s collective and individual giving journeys.

HOW CAN THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION ASSIST FAMILIES IN THEIR GIVING JOURNEYS?

• NCF offers giving strategies and support to help families navigate their generosity journeys, rooted in biblical principles. 
• Local NCF offices provide additional resources and connections for families looking to enhance

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  Published on 2 years, 2 months ago