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!

Lily Gordon

Washington University In St. Louis

Spring
2024

I want to give my money to help people and make a real impact in the community. I want to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Liesl Scherrer

Emory University

Spring
2024

My goal is to be able to donate 7% of my salary in 10 years to an organization that helps raise money to fund cancer research. In 20 years, I hope to be able to give 10% of my salary.

Lexi Foster

Texas Christian University

Spring
2024

My giving goal is to donate my time, talents, and resources to select non-profits whose values and missions are line with those of my own. I want to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those in my community through intentional, substantive advocacy that will take the form of approximately 3-10% of my income, depending on my financial situation. I also want to give a significant portion of my free time, at a minimum of 4 hours per month, depending on the flexibility of my schedule. I hope to better the lives of those in my community in the pursuit of initiating lasting and impactful change that benefits our society. Through my service, I hope to both help and learn from members of my community regardless of my situation.

Leona Mariel Hernandez

University of Texas

Spring
2024

After securing full-time employment, I plan to give approximately 5% of my weekly salary to my preferred religious and arts non-profits.

Leah Scott

University of Washington

Spring
2024

I intend on reevaluating donations when I graduate and donating to either political organizations that I align with, local nonprofits I think are doing great work, and international organizations (mostly in Africa).

Leaf Ye

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2024

I would like to continue to give to the organizations I currently support, but on the larger scale and more regular basis once I graduate. I would also want to start giving to organizations that I work for, which is a practice I recently learned about in class.