By championing anonymous, equitable giving, I aim to foster a culture of generosity that prioritizes uplifting communities over enhancing the status of individual donors. I believe this approach strengthens connections and creates a meaningful impact in the lives of those we seek to help by donating genuinely, locally, and personally.
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!
Ryan Casey
- Fall
- 2024
Early in my career, I hope to focus on providing time each month to volunteer and serve on the board of directors of the non-profit I am currently working with. As I begin to reach a more significant salary, around 4-5 years post-graduation, I hope to donate at least 5% of my income to both political and non-political non-profits.
Rossana Lopez
- Fall
- 2024
I hope my giving is always shaped by a strong sense of justice and a vision of the future where systemic issues are addressed through meaningful shifts in policy and economic systems and material changes in people’s lives. I’d like to give to causes I care about through volunteer work, dedicating time and resources to addressing issues. I’d like to give money in ways that uplift communities and focus on root causes as well as symptoms of issues. While I think a majority of my giving will be local, I want to look outward to causes and issues around the world. I think that these principles will guide me well in my future giving and I’m excited to apply all the tools and knowledge learned in this course to do so.
Rocky O’Shea
- Fall
- 2024
As I get older, I pray that I will keep with me this mindset of love, optimism, and abundance that I have discovered in my youth. Throughout this course, I have been convicted of thinking in terms of scarcity, selfishness, and greed. God is so good, and He enjoys giving good blessings to His children. I love Luke 12:48, which says, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.” It is even on my Philanthropy Lab t-shirt. I hope that in whatever profession, career, and future God calls me to, I give generously. Not just in a financial sense, but with my time, effort, energy, and love. I hope to be a joyful giver, not a reluctant one. No matter the amount of money I am making or how “successful” I become in the eyes of the world, I want my heart posture to be stewarding whatever blessings I have been given well. A giving goal for me does not just mean donating on top of my tithes to the church. That is but one aspect. A giving goal signifies a way to live my life, and I hope to return to this often. I pray that the Lord would increase my faith and trust in Him as the ultimate Provider as I devote my future, my life, and all that I have to Him.
Riko Kawasaki
- Fall
- 2024
I will donate to the organization that can make a long-lasting change
REBECCA FINK
- Fall
- 2024
My giving goal is to retire my parents. My parents have given so much to me so I want to be able to support them. In addition to helping out my parents, I would like to donate at least 10% of my earnings to charity. It has always been very important to me to donate my time and money to worthy causes and I would like to do so on a larger scale when I am financially independent.