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!

Tommy Rosenow

Texas Christian University

Spring 2026

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to give, and I don’t want it to be something I wait to start later. Using what I learned about financial â€˜buckets,’ I plan to set aside 5% of my income for giving each year and gradually increase that over time so it becomes a habit, not an afterthought. I also want to give beyond money by volunteering and using my strengths in mentorship, empathy, and intentionality to invest in others. Ultimately, I want giving to be consistent and part of who I am, not just something I do when it’s convenient.

Ashlyn Graves

Baylor University

Spring 2026

I want to live a life marked by consistent and sacrificial generosity. As a long-term goal, I hope to give away at least $500,000 over the course of my life. That number feels really large to me right now as a college student, but I’m hoping to pursue a career that allows me to be successful enough for that to be possible. More importantly, I want to start building habits of generosity now so that giving becomes a natural part of my life, not something I delay until later. I want to give not just out of excess, but in a way that reflects trust in God rather than my own desire for security. I’ve realized that it’s easy for money and saving to become something I hold onto too tightly, and I want to be someone who holds those things loosely. Beyond finances, I also want to be generous with my time, relationships, and leadershipâ€”investing in people and helping them grow. Ultimately, I want my life to reflect that everything I have is from God and meant to be used for something greater than myself, and I hope this goal is something I can grow into over time as I continue to build those habits.

Anonymous

Harvard University

Spring 2026

By the time I finish this class, I plan to continue giving 10 percent (tithe) of my earnings towards religious focused missions. I also hope to have an area in the world that I want to donate towards. As part of this, I want to be able to know more about what areas are facing what challenges. That’d be environmental related, youth development, end poverty, and any other reasons. I hope to also give my time towards issues that resonate with me. Have at least 3 hours a week that are dedicated to addressing issues that I see and come through to connect with my passion for solving the issue/bringing change.

Anonymous

Harvard University

Spring 2026

My giving goal is to donate to nonprofits that I resonate with in 5 years. I hope to donate to the animal shelter as well.

Anonymous

University of Texas - MBA

Spring 2026

To give to charities that are doing important causes and don’t have the current funding to expand

Anonymous

Texas A&M University

Spring 2026

I’d like to remain actively involved with the nonprofit I currently serve in College Station. It’s important to me that my transition into the workforce doesn’t diminish that connection. While my availability may shift, I plan to continue supporting the organization through financial contributions when I’m no longer able to give as much of my time. Looking ahead, I would value the opportunity to serve on my organization’s board of directors, where I can contribute intentionally and help guide the organization’s growth using my experience. I feel a strong responsibility to invest in the communities I’m part of, wherever I am, and to use my skills and resources to create meaningful, lasting impact.