At Gladwyne Elementary School, third grade teacher Jenn Welby Gilbert built a simple but powerful belief into her classroom culture: children are never too young to make a difference. Since 2008, that belief has grown into The Giving Project—a student-led philanthropy initiative that empowers young people to recognize needs, take action, and create meaningful change in the world around them.
What began as a classroom charity project has become a life-changing experience for hundreds of students and families. Students in Jenn’s classroom have raised more than $100,000 during their third grade years alone, and many have continued their charitable work long after leaving her class. Collectively, Giving Project students and alumni have now raised more than $400,000 for important causes locally, nationally, and globally.
Each fall, students begin by exploring the meaning of community, compassion, and civic responsibility. They learn how people work together for the common good and discover that every person—regardless of age—has the power to help others. Through inspiring literature such as Listen to the Wind, Give a Goat, and Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand, students see real examples of young people changing lives through service and determination.
Students are then challenged to reflect on what matters most to them. With support from their families, they identify causes they care deeply about—such as access to healthcare, educational opportunity, childhood hunger, environmental protection, or animal welfare. Each child develops a personal mission, researches nonprofit organizations aligned to that mission, and selects a charity to support. To launch the journey, every student receives a piggy bank with a $5 seed donation, symbolizing that even small beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
From there, creativity takes over. Students have hosted bake sales, created handmade bracelets, organized neighborhood events, taught art classes, completed chores, and asked for donations in lieu of birthday gifts. They learn entrepreneurship, communication, perseverance, and generosity while seeing the direct impact of their efforts.
One remarkable class of 24 students supported 22 different charities in a single school year and raised more than $59,000 through their initiatives. Their accomplishments were celebrated at the annual 3G Charity Gala, where students, families, and supporters came together to honor a year of service.
The Giving Project has drawn national attention, with students and their work featured on The Today Show, Good Day Philadelphia, and local news outlets across the country.
Most importantly, The Giving Project proves something extraordinary: when children are trusted with purpose, they rise to meet it.
