I hope to be able to give 2% of my overall income while I am still paying off tuition and rent. After working for 5 years and buying a home, I hope to increase this to 5%.
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
Search for Giving Goals
Over 4,200+ course participants have written giving goals in a demonstration of leadership!
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2026
Start participating in a payroll giving program. Find opportunities for skills-based volunteering, such as tutoring in math or providing career guidance.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2026
My approach to philanthropic giving is centered around the idea that where I choose to give reflects what I care about most. For me, that is teen mental health. Over time, I’ve realized that this is an area where early support can completely change the direction of someone’s life. What used to feel like a general desire to “give back†has become a much more intentional goal of contributing to something that creates real, lasting impact.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2026
My giving goal will be to give consistently and intentionally to causes that support the natural environment and food security.