How Educators Spark Lifelong Giving
April 10, 2025 | Written by Branden Waggoner
50 educators who serve as facilitators our Magnified Giving’s Youth Philanthropy Program gather at a Facilitator Appreciation Dinner to be celebrated for their impact on young changemakers!
Let’s talk about the unsung heroes of youth philanthropy. Educators!
Not just the ones who chaperone field trips or stay after school to help with homework (though shoutout to them too). We’re talking about the teachers, program leaders, and school staff who plant the seed of service, the people who show students they have the power to make real change.
At Magnified Giving, we’ve seen firsthand how one engaged educator can launch a whole classroom (or school!) into a new way of thinking about community. It’s powerful. And it’s why we’re so passionate about giving educators the tools to bring philanthropy into the everyday.
The ripple effect starts in the classroom 💥
There’s real data behind this. According to Youth Service America, students involved in high-quality service learning don’t just become better volunteers. They show stronger academic skills, higher self-confidence, and a deeper connection to their communities.
And it all starts with the adults in their corner.
A teacher who asks students what they care about. A school leader who invites a nonprofit guest speaker. A facilitator who makes space for conversations about justice, empathy, and action. These moments matter, and they stick.
What it looks like in our community
Magnified Giving partners with over 150 schools and programs across Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and beyond. We’ve seen students:
Choose local nonprofits to fund based on real community needs
Collaborate with classmates to host fundraisers and awareness events
Reflect on how giving feels, and why it matters
And behind every one of those wins is an educator who made it happen.
We’re constantly inspired by what’s possible when students feel ownership of their impact. But that impact doesn’t happen alone. It takes guidance, structure, and heart—and that’s where you come in.
Want to bring service-learning to your school? We’ve got you.
We’re hosting our Service-Learning Teacher Workshop this summer to help educators like you take the next step. Whether you’re brand new to philanthropy education or already leading a youth program, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, practical tools, and a plan that fits your classroom.
🗓️ July 16, 2025
📍 Evendale Recreation Center
🔗 Sign up here
You’ll learn how to:
Connect service-learning to your existing curriculum
Equip students with tools to give their time, talent, and treasure
Build a classroom culture rooted in empathy and action
It’s one day. But what you learn will change your everyday.
Free resources to check out:
Learning to Give: lesson plans & service-learning tools
Youth Service America (YSA): grant opportunities, impact data, and more
NYLC: national leadership and resources on service-learning
4C for Children: professional development for educators in Southwest Ohio/NKY
Let’s build the future. One classroom at a time.
Students don’t become changemakers in a vacuum. They need role models, adults who believe in them, and opportunities to connect their learning with what they care about.
If you’re an educator reading this: you are that person. And we’d be honored to support you.
Let’s make generosity part of the school day. Let’s help students discover their power to lead. Let’s give them the chance to change the world—and cheer them on while they do it. 💙
Learn more about our programs and let’s get started.