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!

Wyatt Pickering

Texas A&M University

Spring
2025

My goals for giving include giving back to those who have helped me so much. It is important to me to support those who have assisted me along the way. I am excited to begin my philanthropy journey outside of the classroom walls!

William Price

Harvard University

Spring
2025

My goal is to give more of my time. I hope to first: -Take a course in philanthropy and NPO -Volunteer my time to learn how NPO’s work -Start my own venture Through this process, I hope to convert my time to service and further the goals of the incredible NPOs around me, with the aim of one day leading my own initiatives.

Will Bishop

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2025

I plan to use values cards to help me and people I choose to give with identify how we want to give our money away responsibly.

Vivian Akyirem

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2025

I plan to get involve with non profit organization and also as I continue to work on my own giving goals for my non profit, I want to me able to give back and help in the near future

Vinisha Inaganti

Texas Christian University

Spring
2025

I pledge to intentionally donate 5% of my salary to nonprofit organizations. I plan to put in the time to diligently study nonprofits that I am interested in donating to, talk with those who work at those organizations, and even volunteer with those nonprofits to assess where and what my donation could do. In the future, not only do I pledge to engage in philanthropy but I pledge to spread the knowledge regarding the importance and impact of meaningful giving acts.

Vincent Börsch-Supan

Harvard University

Spring
2025

I plan to continue being involved in volunteering after graduation, either through my own non-profit ventures or with established non-profits. I also want to donate around 5% of my disposable income to charities I am involved with or which do provably effective work in combatting global poverty.