ggopher posted on December 11, 2009 08:47
This post is authored by our CEO, Rachel Unell.
After taking my kids to a holiday party late last month, I started thinking about various nonprofits and how they incorporate kids. This particular party was being held by a small local nonprofit, one I had been working with and hoping to help them thrive because I believe their mission is important. The party invitation did not specify 'adults only', and it was a midday function. There were no other kids there, the wine was flowing, and we left the gathering fairly quickly since it was clear that my kids were uncomfortable among the sea of legs and rear ends bumping them no matter how much I steered them out of the firing line.
I left feeling frustrated. After all, I wouldn't have taken them if I had known it was an 'adults only' atmosphere. I knew several of the attendees had small children as well and I wondered if those parents had gotten some sort of memo that I hadn't.
I thought back to my childhood when my dad was very involved with the local Lion's Club. That organization still holds a special place in my heart because we went to the family spaghetti dinners and barbeques. I remember watching some hilarious games like races where you had to keep a balloon between your legs, run down the length of the auditorium, get to the end where you then had to sit on the balloon to pop it. Maybe it doesn't sound funny, but watching otherwise distinguished and proper members of the community partake in that race was really something to see.
So what's the upshot? There's nothing wrong with an adults-only party. We don't all have to have our kids at our side 24/7. But if kids aren't welcome at your organization's function, you really should specify that on the invitation. On the flip side, including kids in some functions, is (in my opinion) critical. It is a great way to show your prospective donors, volunteers, and community that you care about them, and aren't solely focused inward on your own mission. But thinking more long term, in this present day, where civic duty is set aside in favor of television and video games, including children in some aspects of your organization fosters their involvement and pride in community service. You may be building your next generation of supporters.