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!

Nolan Hughes

University of Notre Dame

Fall
2024

I hope to give away at least 5% of my salary every year, hopefully more. I hope to increase that share as my salary increases over the coming years. Additionally, I hope to give at least some of my free time every year to volunteering at local soup kitchens/non profits. I will probably have limited time out of college but I hope to gave more time to give later after my career begins.

Navarre Frede

New York University

Fall
2024

My experiences giving to non-profits and my time working in non-profits have given me a strong idea of what my goals are for the organization that I give to. The kinds of organizations that I believe are most successful are those that make long-lasting and meaningful changes while working closely with the local community. I prioritize programs that address people’s basic needs, but it is even more crucial to tackle the root causes of those needs. For instance, while emergency food programs provide immediate relief, they do not address the underlying issues of food insecurity and often make the problem worse over time. I am more inspired by organizations that create sustainable solutions, such as community gardens, education initiatives, and job training programs that empower people to improve their circumstances in the long term. These organizations not only help individuals meet their immediate needs but also provide them with the tools to build better futures for themselves and their communities. By focusing on long-term change and community involvement, these organizations uplift and empower people rather than simply providing temporary assistance.

Morgan Bradbury

Baylor University

Fall
2024

My giving goal is to always consistently give a portion of my income/time towards causes addressing the vulnerabilities of my neighbors

Micah Bronfman

Vanderbilt University

Fall
2024

After this class I will be more conscious of how I interact with my environment and be sure that when I am giving to philanthropy in the future I am highly critical of the organizations I consider and weigh all of my options. Further, specifically to the point of Criminal Justice, the social issue my team worked on, I am much more conscious of the challenges that justice-involved people face and it has become an interest of mine beyond the confines of our classroom.

Micah Boyce

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fall
2024

For my philanthropic giving goal, I will give what I can based on my job status throughout college. After college, I want to start giving about 2-3% of my salary every year to organizations that support homelessness and domestic violence.

Melvin Vazquez

American University

Fall
2024

My giving goal is to empower community-based leaders to address systemic injustices, fostering long-lasting, sustainable change that enhances the quality of life for youth of color.