As I move into adult life, I see philanthropy playing a dual and essential role. First, I will engage in active giving; volunteering my time, and donating resources to organizations that embody the spirit of thriving and abundance as well as structural change. Second, and perhaps more importantly, given my acute interests in urban space and policymaking, I see my role as an advocate for systemic change, using my voice to push for a government that accepts its fundamental responsibility for the bread
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
Search for Giving Goals
Over 4,200+ course participants have written giving goals in a demonstration of leadership!
Anonymous
- 2025
- Fall
I will contribute a monthly donation of $25 to one charity that focuses on protecting the environment and one organization that supports children, resulting in a total of $100 given to charity by the end of 2025. – I will start donating to my church, giving $50 each month. – Every three months, I will research and identify a new nonprofit organization to make a $20 contribution to. – Every month, I will spend 5 hours volunteering at a nonprofit near me.
Anonymous
- 2025
- Fall
I would like to give both financially and of my own time. I hope to be able to give 3-5% of my salary as I begin my career, and hope to increase this as time goes on. I enjoy volunteering at VITA Tax Assistance Program sites and hope to continue this post-grad.
Anonymous
- 2025
- Fall
Once I have a full-time job, I hope to be able to donate to two philanthropies each year. As I get further from college, I hope to either add more philanthropies to my giving list, or hope to be able to donate more to the two I started with. These organizations will serve children who do not have access to performing arts education in schools, and will also be in support of preventing gun violence.
Anonymous
- 2025
- Fall
Over the next few years, I want to volunteer at least once every two months with a local organization. Ideally, I want to commit to one place to learn its story, understand its struggles, and grow my understanding of the people it serves. By the time I graduate, I hope to not just have volunteered, but to have made lasting impact as well as personal relationships.
Anonymous
- 2025
- Fall
I will always be a volunteer at a local nonprofit that is important to me. Additionally, I will donate at least once annually to a nonprofit outside of the one I volunteer at.