The holiday season is an important one for charities and non-profit organizations says the president and CEO of Imagine Canada.

Bruce MacDonald says they want to make sure charities and non-profit organizations have the environment, tools, and capacity they need to succeed. He notes in the last six to eight weeks of the year, Canadians give about $5-billion to charitable institutions. MacDonald hopes the next generation will be generous as well.

According to Imagine Canada, 88% of parents in Manitoba think it's important to inspire their children to give to charities.

MacDonald says almost 70% of parents see charitable giving as an essential holiday season experience for their children and teenagers. He recommends that parents have conversations with their children around giving.

"Adults say that one of the reasons that they currently give is because they witnessed their parents giving."

MacDonald notes choices around giving are usually very personal and are influenced by whether the individual has benefited from the services of the organization, whether they've watched a family member recieve services, and whether as a child you witnessed giving.

Because children have their own interests, MacDonald recommends getting them involved by helping them set a budget and choose where to donate money to.

"Encouraging kids to maybe have three piggy banks, save, spend and give... empowers them to make the choice around where they want to give."

If people are not sure where to start with the giving process, MacDonald recommends going to the Guide To Giving website.

"The act of being generous, I think, is really a value that makes us Canadian."