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 info@thephilanthropylab.org

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!

Anonymous

University of Texas - Ugrad

Spring 2026

My giving goal is to start contributing my own salary regularly to programs that I feel make an impact on the communities globally and locally. I hope to give regularly, even if it is a small amount, so that I give meaningfully and mindfully, thus giving me a chance to have the spirit of giving present throughout my everyday life. Through this method, I hope that I will evolve my giving and contribute more towards various causes throughout my lifetime.

Lan Yin

University of Texas - MBA

Spring 2026

I will start investing today, even it’s a small amount, but I believe starting today will generate a significant impact in the future.

Anonymous

University of Texas - Ugrad

Spring 2026

My giving goal is to donate at least 5% of my annual income to charities focusing on children’s development and/or education. This is an extremely important area for me, and I want to do anything I can to help the children of the future. I also would like to plan to volunteer at least 2 hours a week at local charities, so that I can better my community and feel like I’m making a difference.

Anonymous

Baylor University

Spring 2026

After this class and experience I realized that I want to be someone who more consistently invests my time and resources into people. More importantly investing through mentorship, service, volunteering, and supporting causes that align with my faith and values, so that is giving from how I live as a person part of who I am. In the future I want myself to remember the passion that giving and investing I have for others in their stories. The time I value to hear someone’s story and who they are.

Anonymous

Columbia University

Spring 2026

I would like to give around 500-1,000 each year starting from graduation and increase it as time goes on.

Anonymous

University of Texas - Ugrad

Spring 2026

I plan to be able to give my time to some sort of volunteer organization (hopefully volunteering at least once a month). If I am be stable enough to donate some portion of my salary I will as well. If I do find myself able to donate something other than time, I plan for it to be towards issues I care about (poverty focused non-profits and/or human rights/advocacy non-profits).