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!

Emily Day Payne

University of Washington

Spring
2024

I pledge to donate 5% of my income to non-profit organizations/philanthropy once I am able to financially support myself

Elliot Sadoff

Columbia University

Spring
2024

I hope to be able to give meaningfully to those in my immediate community and those outside of it, in order to make a difference in the lives of as many people as I can. I hope to be able to do this both with my time and resources, and financially.

Elliot Katz

University of Washington

Spring
2024

I pledge to give 5% of my income to services that benefit marginalized people.

Ellie McSpadden

Texas A&M University

Spring
2024

My giving goal is to steward my time, resources, and finances well in the future. I believe that everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required. My goal of stewarding my time is to use my free time to serve and develop faith based organizations. The three main values I want to highlight are faith, justice, and freedom. The issue areas and concerns are spiritual development, faith-based community service, and youth development. I see myself entering work in the nonprofit sector in full time ministry. Therefore, I will need to think about giving more than financially, but also my resources. I will give my resources to grow the cause of faith in Jesus Christ that I deeply believe. Regardless of my salary, I will give 10% of my income in the future. I plan on giving half of this money to the church and the other half to a nonprofit that deals specifically with child sponsorship internationally.

Elizabeth Baum

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2024

To give what I can to causes I care about.

Eleanor Churchill

Texas A&M University

Spring
2024

Upon reflection of this class, I would like to continue to make an impact in my community. More specifically, I want to donate 10% of my salary to nonprofit organizations every year once I graduate college. I would also like to volunteer 20 hours per year to a nonprofit organization of my choosing. This will help me stay connected with the nonprofits I interacted with and make a difference in my local community.