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!

Emery Hill

Emory University

Spring
2025

Give 10% of my income, regardless of financial difficulty or income level.

Ellie Zimmerman

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2025

I hope to continue contributing to worthy causes throughout my career and thereafter. I plan to do through direct lending, volunteering, and hands-on support for those who are operating organizations and those that they serve.

Ellie Payne

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spring
2025

My goal is to volunteer regularly throughout my adult life and raise money/awareness for causes that are important to me, especially children battling cancer and their families.

Ellie Ables

Baylor University

Spring
2025

In the future, I hope to tithe 10% of my income as well as give some to charity and local organizations. I also hope to contribute more time and effort to organizations in my hometown through volunteer work. Though I am not sure how much money I will be able to give toward organizations given my unknown career, I will make an effort to be generous.

Elle Rosenblum

University of Texas

Spring
2025

In the future, when I have my own income I would like to give 5% of my income to philanthropic causes if my income is on the smaller side. If my income is on the larger side I would like to give 12% of it to philanthropic causes.

Elizabeth Johnson

Baylor University

Spring
2025

Until graduation, I want to give my time and efforts to volunteer with local nonprofits. After graduation, I want to donate 5% of my salary to nonprofits within the first 5 years of my post-graduate career. After 5 years, I hope to be in a financial standing in which I can give 10% of my salary to philanthropic efforts.