Budgeting · Video Lesson
How Do I Donate? What is a Charity?
Giving is part of a healthy financial life. This lesson explains what a charity is and why charitable giving matters, how to choose a reputable organization for a cause you care about, and how to make an intentional donation — of money, time, or skills — that actually makes an impact.
For Teachers
Lesson at a glance
- Topic
- Budgeting & Giving
- Grade Level
- Grades 7–12 + adult
- Resource Type
- Video Lesson + Worksheet
- Estimated Time
- 45–60 minutes
- Format
- Class discussion + research activity
- Materials
- Video, worksheet, whiteboard, devices for research
What Students Learn
Learning objectives
- Define a charity and explain why charitable organizations matter
- Identify a cause they care about
- Use tools like Charity Navigator to check a charity’s credibility
- Describe how to decide on a donation amount and make a donation
- Recognize non-monetary ways to give — time, skills, and resources
Video Lesson
Watch: How Do I Donate? What is a Charity?
Materials
What you’ll need
- Internet access for the video
- Printed copies of the worksheet quiz (one per student)
- Devices for the charity-research activity
- Whiteboard or projector
Key Terms
Vocabulary
- Charity
- A nonprofit organization that raises money and resources to address a cause or need.
- Donation
- Money, time, goods, or skills given to support a cause.
- Nonprofit
- An organization that uses its funds for its mission rather than to make a profit for owners.
- Charity Navigator
- A website that rates charities on transparency and effectiveness.
- Transparency
- How openly an organization shares how it uses its money.
- Volunteering
- Giving your time and skills to help a cause without pay.
For Teachers
Lesson plan
Estimated time: one 45–60 minute class period.
Lesson sequence
- Introduction (10 min). Ask what students understand by “charity” and share any experiences with giving or volunteering.
- Watch the video (12 min). Play the lesson video. Ask students to note how to choose a charity and ways to give.
- Discussion (12 min). Cover why charities matter, how to find a cause you care about, what to check before donating, deciding an amount, and non-monetary giving.
- Activity — research a charity (15 min). Students pick a cause, then use a tool like Charity Navigator to evaluate a related charity’s transparency and effectiveness, and report back.
- Quiz (8 min). Students complete the printable quiz; the answer key is included for teacher use.
Assessment
Assess participation, the charity-research activity, and the printable quiz.
Discussion
Discussion questions
- What is a charity, and why are charities important?
- How would you identify a cause you care about?
- What should you check before donating to a charity?
- How might you decide how much to give?
- Besides money, what are other meaningful ways to give?
Printable Quiz
What is a Charity and How to Donate — Quiz & Answer Key
Multiple-choice quiz based on the video, with an answer key for teacher use.
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