My main giving goal is to establish my own non-profit organization to provide housing assistance in my home community on the Menominee Reservation. This goal came to mind after truly grasping the struggles my community faces. Alcoholism, drug addiction, irresponsible parenting, and a housing crisis are all things that hold the Menominee Reservation back. I think providing new housing for people of all different ages can give a newfound sense of care to truly better themselves.

My giving goal is to support local animal shelters and organizations that help families in need by donating money and volunteering my time. I want my giving to create a direct, positive impact in my community while reflecting my values of compassion and service.

My goal is to give an annual amount that is around 7-10% of my income, with potential for more as my career and income grow. I’d like to expand on my understandings of the organizations I’d like to contribute to, and find things I’m passionate about that I can be of help with

Looking ahead, I want my giving to be aligned with the life I am building, one rooted in faith, discipline, service, and impact. I want my success to expand opportunity for others. My vision is not only to do meaningful work, but to live meaningfully. I want my giving to directly support communities that are often unheard or underserved. That means investing my time in mentorship, staying involved in grassroots efforts, and using my education to challenge systems that create inequality. I never want to become so career-focused that I lose proximity to the people I care about serving. Financially, I want to be intentional from the beginning. Even while I’m still building stability, I plan to give consistently, not occasionally. As I grow in my career I want my generosity to grow faster than my lifestyle. I hope to fund scholarships for students from immigrant and low-income backgrounds, and contribute to initiatives that promote long-term change. When I look back in ten or twenty years, I hope I see a life that multiplied opportunity. A life where discipline led to impact.

My giving goal is to engage philanthropically over time, regardless of my success. Though I know my career work in the nonprofit sector will directly impact the lives of the constituents I work with, I want to always be in a place to donate what I can to organization’s whose mission, vision, and values directly align with mine: to improve the lives of their community through every stage and circumstance of their lives. Whether these organizations be near or far, I have set a goal for myself to give (at minimum) annually to organizations both big and small who care deeply about their communities. This year, I gave $10 to the organization CANMN supporting families and individuals in tumultuous times in Minneapolis. I hope in the future I can give 10, maybe, even 100 times that annually. Regardless of the amount, I have hope my donations can make a lasting impact on those who receive the benefits of my funds.

My Giving Goal includes reflecting upon how I’ve been giving previously, and add more intentionality to future giving. As it is now, I donate here and there to various organizations, but haven’t put a certain percentage on it or with regularity. I have been on the Board of Directors for a nonprofit organization for almost 6 years, serving as the Secretary, and doing trips, even internationally, on their behalf, primarily in support of Veterans. I think with all the new knowledge I’m gaining about philanthropy, it will feel good to contribute, through volunteer work, financially, or with my skills, to organizations that align with my values and goals.