Charity's Not High On Families' Thanksgiving Agenda - Poll

Editorial Staff

2 December 2019

A study of more than 2,000 US adults shows that almost nine out of ten of them don't expect to talk about charity at their Thanksgiving table this year, suggesting that there is a need to ramp up the focus on philanthropy.

The online study of 2,050 US citizens by The Harris Poll, on behalf of Vanguard Charitable, showed that respondents are more likely to discuss family members , movies/TV shows and the once-taboo topic of politics at their holiday dinner table this year.

“Just like Thanksgiving traditions and charitable giving traditions can be passed from generation to generation and from friends to friends,” Jane Greenfield, president of Vanguard Charitable, said.

"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. With Thanksgiving serving as our country’s day to give thanks, it’s the perfect time for families and friends to talk about the causes closest to their hearts and how they support them."

This publication is running a series of features about philanthropy issues in wealth management in coming days.

Vanguard Charitable's findings included the following:

-- Only 11 per cent of Americans say that they are likely to discuss the topic of charitable giving at their holiday dinner this year;
-- Millennials and Gen X are more than twice as likely than Boomers to say that charitable giving is likely to be discussed at their holiday dinner table this year .