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!

Robert Richards

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2024

I would say I would probably give $20,000 throughout my career.

Robert Hecton

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2024

To be a regular volunteer at an organization starting 1 year after graduating and starting work. To donate 1% of my salary starting 2 years after graduating and starting work.

Rehman Hassan

Stanford University

Spring
2024

I pledge to ensure that I spend my working career and the entirety of the wealth that I generate to ensure that I do my very best to support communities themselves and meaningfully support community advancement at every moment of my life.

Reagan Pierce

Texas A&M University

Spring
2024

My goal is to practice a lifestyle of generosity, which gives freely of my time, talents, and treasure. In my limited experience so far, if time and talents are not first being offered, treasure most certainly is not being given. I want to volunteer with my church and other organizations that I care deeply about (which will require finding these organizations wherever I am). I want to make giving (of money, specifically) a common practice, and invest in international organizations such as World Vision, as well as local organizations such as my church and schools.

Rachel Lee

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2024

Upon graduation, my giving goal is to be able to give 5-10% of my income, which is also dependent on what my post-grad income ends up being and the financial flexibility I have.

Peter Blair

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2024

My expectation is that I will give only small amounts unsystematically upon graduation of my master’s program, but in the long-term I will endeavor to put myself in a position to give away 10% of income annually to a balanced set of recipients.