What is a Giving Goal?

Often, the idealism of youth is lost as one achieves success and acquires material possessions later in life. What was originally considered to be “enough” or even “beyond my wildest dreams” can become just another milestone on one’s quest…

Capturing your current vision of how you wish to give of yourself and your resources in the future could help you plan to give more meaningfully. Revisiting this vision in ten or twenty years could provide a reminder of the ideals of your youth that may shape or re-shape your future actions.

If you have already posted your Giving Goal and would like to update your email for future reminders, please contact [email protected]

Step 1

Have a healthy and vigorous dialogue in your class on the general idea of having a personal Giving Goal as a college student.

Step 2

Set a Giving Goal concerning your future giving plans.

Step 3

Share a brief statement of your Giving Goals on The Philanthropy Lab’s portal as a way to inspire others to do the same. You may post anonymously to the public if you wish.

Step 4

Share your permanent email address and phone number with The Philanthropy Lab, for the sole purpose of the reminder mechanism, so we can remind you of your goal in 5 year increments for 20 years into the future.

Alumni Reflections

"What a sweet reminder of this pledge! I've definitely given and volunteered in the last 6yrs. It's been a joy to continue the journey of generosity since graduating from undergrad. I'm back in grad school and I am looking forward to finishing my MSW. There will be new ways I give back to the community!"

"Thank you so much for this valuable reminder of my Giving Pledge. I'm proud to say I've dedicated several hours of volunteer time & services to Arts Education non-profits and will continue to live out this pledge"

“Thanks for reaching out––I'm actively still volunteering at two non-profits now in NYC (one free food service called "Wellfare" and a neighborhood homeless shelter)”

"Thank you for your email! The Philanthropy Lab was a life changing experience for me. I ended up joining the board of Malawi Children's Village to run the women empowerment program, which is what the Philanthropy Lab grant was for. In August, I am going to Malawi to see the project in action!"

"I was so happy to see this email pop into my inbox, it feels like a lifetime ago I was in this course. I appreciate all that I learned in this class and have taken its messages with me through these past 5 years. I do plan on maintaining the promise I made in this class"

"Thanks for this reminder. I actually still have a handwritten version of that note on the magnet board in my home office."

Search for Giving Goals

Over 4,200+ course participants have written giving goals in a demonstration of leadership!

Susan Montague

Columbia University

Spring
2026

I aim to give a consistent percentage of my income throughout my life and to increase that percentage as my financial capacity grows. I also hope to stay involved beyond financial contributions by being engaged with the organizations I support and making thoughtful, informed decisions about where I give.

Sabrina Hsu

Columbia University

Spring
2026

My giving goal is to allocate a fifth of the income not dedicated to living expenses and childcare or family care to charitable organizations involved in bettering the state of human existence.

Rebecca Ratigan

Columbia University

Spring
2026

My goal is to give a substantial portion of my salary. I want my professional career to be impactful towards others and I want to incorporate philanthropy into the rest of my life!

Paul Greitemann

Columbia University

Spring
2026

10% of my salary, 25% of gifts & inheritance. Give to effective charities, not to art or animals. Think about Rawl’s veil of ignorance & Justice.

Nirel Ben Joseph

Columbia University

Spring
2026

My goal is to give in a way that is intentional, informed, and centered on creating impact. In the future, I hope to use both my resources and my time to support organizations that address structural inequalities, particularly in areas related to mental health and access to education. I want my giving to go beyond one-time contributions and instead reflect a sustained commitment to communities, guided by empathy, evidence, and an understanding of the real needs in a community. By defining this vision now, I hope to hold myself accountable to these values over time and ensure that my actions continue to align with the kind of impact I want to have.

Emily Phillips

Columbia University

Spring
2026

After finishing law school and paying off my student loan debt, I hope to one day be able to give at least 10% of my income to philanthropic causes. I also hope to give my time and efforts by volunteering regularly at organizations whose mission I believe in.