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!

Yufei Tang

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2025

I want to donate 2% of my annual income to philanthropy or non-profit organizations after I have my full-time job. And this percentage can increase according to my income level.

Yitong Wang

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2025

After having steady income following graduation, I plan to contribute about 5% of my income to the area I interested in, for philanthropic purpose , like climate change. Also, I plan to join more programs of these areas or join a non-profit group.

Yifan Liang

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2025

My giving goal is to dedicate 10% of my annual pre-tax income to support educational initiatives that empower underrepresented communities, aiming to provide scholarships and resources that foster academic and personal growth.

Yasser Jamal

Stanford University

Spring
2025

I want to donate 10-15% of my annual income for the next five years and increase that percentage over the years. This upcoming yr I plan to donate around 15K given my jobs 1:1 giving match.

Yashonandan Kakrania

Emory University

Spring
2025

My goal is to donate 5-10% of my salary after graduation towards organizations supporting animal welfare

Xinyi (Bella) Min

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2025

My vision for giving in the future is rooted in a deep commitment to creating meaningful and lasting change by dedicating both my time and resources to causes that reflect my values and aspirations. I aim to support initiatives that promote equity, education, and environmental sustainability, empowering marginalized communities and fostering opportunities for growth. Beyond financial contributions, I envision engaging more actively—whether through mentorship, advocacy, or volunteering—to ensure that my impact goes beyond monetary support. In ten or twenty years, I hope to look back and see that this vision has guided my actions, serving as a reminder of the ideals that inspired me in my youth and encouraging me to continue evolving in how I contribute to the world.