What’s the best way to raise generous kids? That question takes on new urgency during New Year’s resolution time, when families are pondering self-improvement acts and goals. Some experts argue that kids benefit more when they have year-round opportunities to think about and respond to needs that resonate with them. One study done by the Philanthropy Institute at the University of Indiana found that children were 20% more likely to be generous givers if their parents talked with them regularly about the good they can do by contributing time and money.

The best charitable projects are those that connect with the interests of the child as well as with the family’s resources and values. The following websites offer a wide variety of ways in which families can get involved in doing good to kick off the New Year and beyond.

Micro-giving.

A number of websites allow visitors to make tiny donations simply by doing things that are part of their daily routine. These websites aren’t a substitute for other projects, but they do create a kind of mindfulness about causes that deserve your support. And, for kids, they also demonstrate the cumulative power of many people doing small good things.

• Searching. GoodSearch.com is a philanthropic search engine which donates 50% of its advertising revenue to a cause that you designate. The site also has a Goodshop option which allows you to donate a percentage of your purchase to charity.
• Clicking. Care2 has an entire page filled with sites that allow you to support favorite causes by clicking once a day (Care2.com/click-to-donate). The sites are supported by sponsors who make micro-donations for each click.
• Walking. Anyone with a smartphone can download the app at CharityMiles.org. Then, your family can choose one of the approved charities. A corporate sponsor will donate up to 25 cents for every mile you walk or run and up to 10 cents for every mile you log on your bike.

Sponsor a child.

Children often like the idea of helping another child who is the same age. Plan International (PlanUSA.org/forsponsors) and Children International (Children.org) both have websites which make it easy to identify a specific child in a particular country. Children International allows donations to individuals, families, or communities. Plan International encourages sponsors to communicate with and even visit the children.

Charitable gift cards.

Several websites will help you create donation cards. If you give one to a child or, for that matter, other family members, they get the satisfaction of choosing who will receive the donation (and you get a tax deduction). JustGive.org and TisBest.org serve a wide range of charities. Both charge a small service fee which covers the creation of the card as well as the credit card fee.

Reinvent family traditions.

With a little thought, families can make special occasions even more meaningful by sharing the joy. For example, if you make special foods for a holiday, double the batch so you can share with an elderly neighbor or a family that’s facing hard times. For birthday parties, consider asking guests to bring a gently used book or toy to be donated to a local charity. Or create a birthday-in-a box for a child who might not otherwise have a party. For details about these and other generous ideas, visit Family-To-Family.org.

Join the crowd.

Crowdfunding is a popular way to support good causes. CrowdRise.com, StartSomeGood.com, and JustGiving.com are all good ways to expose teens and pre-teens to what others are doing to make the world a better place. If you find a cause that connects with your child, you may want to match whatever the child decides to donate. Some families create a jar for spare change and decide together where to donate the funds. For younger children, consider a “money savvy” bank that helps kids allocate their allowance to spending, saving, donating, and investing (msgen.com).

Make a loan.

Sometimes the best way to help people is to loan them what they need to start a business. Kiva.com pools contributions as small as $25 into small loans that can be used to start or expand entrepreneurial projects that improve the lives of impoverished families. When the loan is repaid, your family can invest again.

Volunteer your time.

For many families, giving time makes more sense than giving money.  VolunteerMatch.org will help you find both local and virtual ways to volunteer in your community.

Make donations count.

Not all charities are created equal. Some, for example, spend a disproportionate amount of what they raise on salaries or fundraising. To be sure a charity is legitimate and well-run, encourage older children to do a little research. Give.org, a site managed by the Better Business Bureau, evaluates organizations on several criteria including board oversight, transparency, and donor privacy.  CharityNavigator.org provides information on charities with donations of over one million dollars. CharityWatch.org does a very rigorous review of a smaller number of charities. FoundationCenter.org provides easy access to the 990 forms which charities must complete to preserve their tax exempt status.

Whatever you decide to do, remember that the real benefits come from helping kids recognize needs and think constructively about what they can do to help. You don’t really need a website or an app for that — just an open heart and willingness to give what you can.