My goal is to give at least 5% of my income when I am financially able to.
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!
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2026
In the short-term, I plan to use this class as a platform to give money to the cause that I care most about–housing. I am excited to contribute to helping people find the resources they need to sustain themselves and get out of poverty, especially since the federal plan to fix the housing crisis is currently non-existent. In the long-term, I intend to become a lawyer and work in politics, fighting for vast reforms to the intersectional, institutional issues in American society that trap the most vulnerable populations in cyclical poverty. In between law and politics I am not sure what will happen, but if I find myself with vast sums of wealth or with the opportunity to work as a philanthropist with someone else’s wealth, I would love the opportunity to pursue a career advocating and fundraising for various issues related to housing, education, healthcare, and climate change.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2026
Each year, I will practice philanthropy by achieving 3 different goals. 1) Throughout my career, I will donate more than I did the year before. 2) I will volunteer for 25-50 hours each year. 3) I will volunteer at a new nonprofit each year to expand my impact in new ways.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2026
My goal is to contribute 5% of my income each year to organizations that I am passionate about. I hope to be involved and make a difference in my community by volunteering my time as well.