I aim to engage with at least two different nonprofits on a yearly basis, with at least one of them being through monetary support. When choosing what nonprofits to support, I will dedicate time to fully understand the organization’s mission and impact prior to committing to working with them. A minimum of 10% of my salary on a yearly basis will go towards philanthropic endeavors, with the percentage increasing as I progress in my career. Volunteer time will also be prioritized, and I will work towards spending at least 50 hours a year volunteering for local nonprofits.
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!
Allison Vanderslice
- Spring
- 2025
I would like to give $200 for the first 3 years I am out of college, then bump it up to $500 for the 5 years after that and bump up the amount $200-$300 every 4-5 eyars
Allison Silas
- Spring
- 2025
During my time at PwC, my goal is to take advantage of the firm’s Skills for Society opportunities by contributing 40 hours each year to volunteer and find ways to support causes that are important to me. Outside of work, I will find an organization with which to volunteer at least once a month. Financially, my goal is to contribute 5% of my income each year to organizations that align with my values.
Aliyah Bagro
- Spring
- 2025
My giving goal is to identify organizations that tackle systemic challenges in education and determine short and long-term actions I can enact to address the issue.
Alin Asim
- Spring
- 2025
I am hoping to engage with philanthropy in the future, and I would like to focus specifically on giving to both national and international nonprofit organizations, more specifically on the organizations that work on addressing inequalities in accessing to quality healthcare and adequate treatment, more specifically regarding infectious diseases. I would also be very grateful to have the opportunity to volunteer with the organizations that I would be donating to contribute to and witness the real impact the organization is creating. I hope that with the knowledge and insights that I learn from this class I could shape and structure my giving goals and behaviors accordingly and give to organizations that support the causes at the intersection of what I care the most and what the world needs the most.