Charitable Giving Has No Seat At America’s Holiday Table

Nearly nine out of ten Americans (89%) admit that talk of charitable giving will likely be missing at this year’s holiday dinner table, finds a new survey of 2,050 U.S. adults conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Vanguard Charitable. Instead, many Americans say they are likely to discuss family members (67%), movies/TV shows (47%) and the once-taboo topic of politics (33%) at their holiday dinner table this year.

“Just like holiday traditions and charitable giving traditions can be passed from generation to generation and from friends to friends,” says Jane Greenfield, President of Vanguard Charitable. “Talking about the importance of giving back to others, whether it be through time, treasure or talent, is like sparking a fire – the more it’s talked about, the more likely it is for others to take action. It’s the perfect time for families and friends to talk about the causes closest to their hearts and how they support them. That’s why this year, we’re encouraging all Americans to share how they give back.”

 

Key survey findings include:

• Charitable Giving Has No Seat: Only 11% of Americans say they are likely to discuss the topic of charitable giving at their holiday dinner this year.
• Other Topics of Conversation Abound: More Americans are likely to find themselves talking about family members (67%), current events (48%), movies/TV shows (47%), travel/vacation (45%), relationships (44%), work (39%), politics (33%) and books (15%) at the holiday dinner table this year.
• Younger Americans Are More Likely to Talk Giving: Millennials (age 23-38) and Gen X (age 39-54) are more than twice as likely than Boomers (age 55-73) to say charitable giving is likely to be discussed at their holiday dinner table this year (14% each vs. 6%).

To give charitable giving a spot at holiday tables across America, Vanguard Charitable has released Five Charitable Giving Conversation Starters that anyone, young or old, can use to inspire others:

 

1. What causes are you passionate about?
2. What experiences have created these philanthropic passions?
3. Who do you look up to for having made a significant impact on the cause or causes they care deeply about?
4. How do you give back to others using your time, treasure and talent?
5. What was the most impactful giving situation you’ve been a part of? How did it improve your life in addition to improving the lives of others?