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!

Tseion Mebratu

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2023

I plan to give to the following issues that I am passionate about: womens health, education, and human rights.

Tsedenya Bizani

Emory University

Spring
2023

I would like to contribute at least 10% of my income towards causes that I feel need the funds the most at the time. I would also like to work within philanthropy or nonprofits so I would like to contribute my time and energy.

Trinity Pizzuti

Emory University

Spring
2023

My pledge is to donate 5% of my salary to nonprofits that support education, health and wellbeing, and religion that have meaningful missions and effectively utilize their donations. I also have the goal of increasing the donation amount to 10% in the future.

Tianyang Tao

Washington University In St. Louis

Spring
2023

If possible, I would like to work for an NGO – part time or full time – when I graduate. If not, then I would donate 1/12 of my salary to helping others.

Thomas Green

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2023

Upon graduation, my giving will primarily stem from time. Given that I will be early on in my post-graduate career and trying to save, the bulk of my giving early on will be in the form of volunteered time. After 3 years, I will reassess my financial position and hope to transition my giving to include more financial means. I do not have a specific dollar or percentage amount currently but I hope to help causes in the Houston area as well as the University of Texas.

Theo Auer

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2023

Following graduation and getting permanently into the working life, I want to donate what I am able to after taking care of my finances and putting a portion into savings. I believe it is important to help those in need with the “”extra”” you may gather through your life. In the later stages of life, I would then want to ramp up my giving efforts more through the hopefully pooled savings I have made along the way. I want to support the underprivileged in my area (Finland) through various initiatives I believe in, and also I want to get personally involved in some of them. In addition, I want to give more global efforts to aid us all, for example efforts against climate change or global poverty. I would also really like to get involved in my