Share Why You Give
By Anne Calder, Vice President of Development
Quad Cities Community Foundation
In my conversations with donors, I often ask where they first learned generosity. The answers are as different as the people. Some learned from parents, grandparents, or mentors. Others point to powerful personal experiences.
Generosity is rarely taught in a classroom. For most, it’s learned by seeing others give, by hearing their stories, and by noticing how values are lived out in daily life.
That is why it is important not to give in silence. The act of giving matters, and so does sharing the reasons behind it. A story about a food pantry that helped a neighbor, a scholarship that opened a door, or a community project that brightened your town does more than inform. It shows what we value, what we are grateful for, and what kind of world we want to build.
At the Community Foundation, I work with families who pass these lessons forward. One family sets aside dollars each year for their grandchildren to give away. The children choose causes that matter to them and discover the joy of making a difference. It’s a simple practice that plants deep roots for a lifetime of generosity.
Children, grandchildren, and friends are listening. They see that generosity is about more than money. It is about kindness, belonging, and caring for one another. In hearing our stories, they begin to imagine how they, too, might live generously.
This season, as you gather with loved ones, consider weaving giving into your conversations. You may find that others light up with their own stories, creating a ripple effect of generosity that continues far beyond the holidays.
When we speak about why we give, we pass on hope, compassion, and community. These are treasures meant to be shared.