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!

Ava M Lamoreaux

University of Texas

Spring
2025

My giving goal for the future will be for me to donate a certain percentage of my annual income after I have completed medical school and paid off my student loans. I am aiming towards 2% of my annual income, but that may increase depending on my financial status with my career in the future. I plan on giving to health care services as that is what I advocate for and the entire reason I am going premed.

Ava Carson

Texas A&M University

Spring
2025

When I graduate, I want to begin with giving 10% of my income annually to philanthropic endeavors. I would like to give 5% to Christian faith driven organizations, focused on bringing reform and awareness to the underprivileged locally and internationally. The other 5% I would like to allocate to food insecurity and poverty in my local area. This is driven my my passion and values for my faith, empathy, and love for others. Eventually, I would hope to be able to give 20-30% of my annual income towards these philanthropic purposes, or others that I grow more passionate about in my expansion with these works. For me, regardless of my salary, I want to ensure I am able to give back to the underprivileged and causes I care about helping foster change.

Austin Lloyd

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2025

By the end of 2025 – I want to be volunteering my time at a local organization at least once a month. By the end of 2030 – I want to have established a financial personal giving amount, and volunteer my time at least once a month. By the end of 2035 – I want to be on a board of a local non-profit and financially donating an amount set forth by myself and my family annually. In my lifetime, I would like to donate at least $100,000

Austin Dolan

Texas Christian University

Spring
2025

My giving goal is to contribute at least 100 hours of volunteer service annually by dedicating two hours each week to a local nonprofit. In addition, I aim to donate 5% of my annual income to charitable organizations that align with my values and community impact goals.

Audrey Manly

Texas Christian University

Spring
2025

I want to split my giving into two categories. First, I want to give to organizations that have given a lot to me, such as churches and my alma mater. Secondly, I want to give to non-profits that are working to fight justice issues that I care about. I care deeply about helping women affected by the cycle of sex trafficking and abuse. I also care about education and helping children learn to read proficiently. These are examples of causes that I want to give to in the future.

Ata Tezel

Columbia University

Spring
2025

Donate to help achieve change in causes I believe in. Get to know the people I would trust my donations with before deciding on contributing. No cause is unmeaningful, and their value is subjective. But effectiveness is often objective and can be observed if not quantified. Ultimately, give to those that you like, that are meaningful and effective.