Those of us at The Philanthropy Lab are committed to inspiring young people across the nation to become active givers of their time and treasure. We believe the future of our world depends on educating the next generation of leaders and responsible citizens—helping them understand that we are all in it together. Like a relay runner passing the baton, we each have a responsibility to hand it to future generations, who will carry it forward—faster, better, and with a grateful heart.
One way we do this is by encouraging students to write a Giving Goal. This reflective exercise allows students to articulate their personal philanthropic goals for the future and share them with their peers.
Think about it.
How often do we have great intentions but fail to act on them? We make all sorts of mental promises to ourselves and others, but—if you’re like me—rarely take the first step to put them into motion. Our Giving Goal activity shifts students from “I hope to” to “I will.”
This is powerful. Science tells us that writing down goals creates a sense of accountability, increases motivation, and provides a tangible way to track progress—significantly boosting the likelihood of achieving them.
And our efforts are yielding remarkable results.
At the conclusion of their courses, The Philanthropy Lab reminds alumni of their Giving Goals through emails and texts at regular intervals. We recently heard from five-year alumni, and their reflections are equally inspiring:
- “I am proud to say that I’ve dedicated many hours of volunteer time and services to arts education nonprofits and continue to live out this pledge.”
- “I finished college and got a job. I donate every year in a hyper-local manner and volunteer every month.”
- “I have definitely given and volunteered in the past six years. It’s been a joy to continue this journey of generosity.”
Since 2011, The Philanthropy Lab and its donor partners have invested more than $18.2 million to build philanthropy education at 33 universities across the United States. More than 5,000 students have participated in The Philanthropy Lab’s courses.
We want to see philanthropy education prioritized at universities so that more students develop lifelong habits of thoughtfully giving their money, time, and skills.
After all, we’re in this together.
Bill Arnold is the Executive Director of Blue Diamond Recreation, a nonprofit corporation that provides restorative recreational opportunities for veterans challenged by the effects of war. Bill served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, deployed to Iraq in 2004, and was cited for bravery in combat. For over 28 years, Bill has served as a history teacher, coach, and administrator at Fort Worth Country Day. In 2025, Bill donated his time and talent to The Philanthropy Lab. We are grateful for his contributions to our summer blog series!
