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!

Samantha Singh

New York University

Fall
2023

I wish to be able to give my time and at least a couple hundred dollars per year once I have a reliable source of income. The amount of money I hope to be able to increase as I get better jobs/more income.

Sam Forneron

University of Arkansas

Fall
2023

I want to be able to each year, invest atleast 25-30 hours volunteering in my local community.

Sabine Go

University of Notre Dame

Fall
2023

I will volunteer every 2 weeks or at least 3 times a month. 🙂

Ryan Woods

Cornell University

Fall
2023

Allocating 3% of my annual income to charitable giving is a deliberate choice that reflects my commitment to making a positive impact on causes that align with my values. This percentage strikes a balance between contributing meaningfully to charitable organizations and maintaining financial stability. By dedicating 3% of my income, I aim to support initiatives that address societal challenges and contribute to positive change. This approach allows me to play a part in philanthropy while ensuring that I can fulfill personal and financial responsibilities. Regularly reassessing and adjusting this giving goal will enable me to stay responsive to evolving financial circumstances and prioritize causes that hold significant importance to me. Importantly, I reserve the right to increase my allocation percentage as my income grows, ensuring that my philanthropic efforts scale with my financial capacity.

RYAN HAGEN

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fall
2023

My goal is to give 5% of my income to non-profits every year once I have an actual job.

Ryan Bland

University of Notre Dame

Fall
2023

I hope to give consistently to my high school every year after I graduate. Depending on my financial situation, I would also like to give to a philanthropic cause of my choosing.