I hope to give intentionally and thoughtfully, supporting causes I connect with and where my contributions can help create real impact. I view giving as both a privilege and a responsibility, and I look forward to growing into this role as I continue to learn and move forward in my life and career.
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
Search for Giving Goals
Over 4,200+ course participants have written giving goals in a demonstration of leadership!
Lucy Cowen
- Spring
- 2025
I would like to give 5% of my salary to organizations that support women’s & LGBTQ+ right across the globe, but especially here in the US.
Luc Neacy
- Spring
- 2025
As a working adult, I hope to give as much as I can within my means, both financially and in time volunteering in my community. Specifically, I want to focus my giving not on distant charities but on my direct community, often giving in non-traditional ways or supporting crowdsourcing, collective funds, emergency responses, reparations, and long-term projects as well as local organizations. In doing so, I don’t primarily want to have closer access to the impact of my giving but to be placed into closer contact with my community, whether that be a work, residential, or social community. I think philanthropy can be a tool for greater community and collectivization of resources and want to contribute to that end.
Logan Carroll
- Spring
- 2025
My Giving Goal entails wishing to consistently give away 10% of what I make towards my church and/or organizations that align with my values. In the near future, because I will not be earning a steady income till I graduate school, I wish to donate my time towards these organizations and helping the communities I am in. My future plans are to increase the amount from 10% as I become more stable in my career and earn more money. Of course, this will fluctuate depending on what life stages I am in, but I hope to remain true to giving away what I have been given myself.
Liqi Liang
- Spring
- 2025
1. Support students in developing hands-on experience in philanthropy by funding impactful, student-led grant-making initiatives. 2. Identify and provide financial resources to nonprofits demonstrating measurable impact and sustainability in addressing critical social issues.