My ultimate goal is to make an impact in the community around me through my generosity. This semester I have seen the impact strategic giving can have on the giver and the receiver. I want to give in a way that is intentional and impactful. Specifically, I would like to have a savings account specifically for large gifts. Throughout this process I have seen what organizations dream of doing with $5,000, $15,000, and $30,000, so I would like to give gifts of these three sizes from this savings account as time goes on. I also want my giving to increase as my salary increases. When I get a raise I want the first thing I consider to be how that money will impact my giving. I want to give well and thoughtfully no mater how much I have.
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!
Abby Katzap
- Fall
- 2024
I will donate to scholarship funds that promote equal access to higher education and Jewish youth programs because those are the organizations that made me a giver. Right now, I think of myself as a giver even though I do not have a stable income. Philanthropy is a community effort because the more people are involved, the more they care. My career as a philanthropist started with me making silly programs to excite my peers to donate. As I continue serving in philanthropy, I will continue to excite my peers in giving to make a difference.
Abby Kahn
- Fall
- 2024
I pledge to volunteer regularly in my community on a regular basis, starting in the next 3 years. I pledge to donate at least 5% of my salary to causes important to me starting in 5 years.
Aaliyah Perez
- Fall
- 2024
I pledge to carefully consider the use of my finances throughout my lifetime — not using my resources as a means to my own end but living within a humble lifestyle to allow for charitable giving to others. I will maintain my values of caring for others who do not have the ability to care for themselves, such as those with special needs or disabilities, or children.
YoonCheol Shin
- Spring
- 2024
In the next five years, I plan to establish a foundation with my colleagues in the United Methodist Church to support nonprofits and individuals in need through unrestricted giving. When it comes to individual giving, my goal is to contribute at least 5% of my income to philanthropic purposes.
Xxaria Violet Makely
- Spring
- 2024
In the future, I plan to give whatever I have in excess of time, energy, will, emotional support, and if I have it, money, to the causes I so fervently support. Usually we have some kind of resource in excess, even if it’s just our thoughts, that go unused. This is how I plan to conduct myself, giving whatever I have whenever I have it. I don’t plan on being rich with money, but I do plan on having rich relationships and I can only hope that I have as many passions for change in the future as I do right now. I don’t want to wait for philanthropy. The people who need it can’t wait. My giving goals recognize that. I want to change the way people view stigmatized groups: those who are homeless, addicted to substances, mentally ill. These are the people that lives on the edge of cracks, or worse, that have fallen in. Yet, these are the people that get the least help because we as a society either don’t know how to properly give it to them or don’t think they deserve it. But I know. We give them the autonomy of which they’ve been stripped. We give it in our time, energy, will, humanity, friendship, and oh yeah… money.