My giving goal is to be intentional with both my money and time, focusing on causes that expand access to opportunity, especially in education, entrepreneurship, and health. I want to go beyond donating by staying involved, using my skills and network to support impact-driven organizations. Over time, I aim to grow my giving in a consistent, thoughtful way rather than treating it as something occasional.

I will start investing today, even it’s a small amount, but I believe starting today will generate a significant impact in the future.

Give earlier in life and to more organizations that align with my values

My goal for the Philanthropy Lab course is to better understand how thoughtful giving can create lasting community impact. As a board member of the Laddoo Foundation in India, I have seen how even small acts of support can improve education, dignity, and opportunity for underserved communities. Through this course, I want to strengthen my ability to evaluate nonprofits, allocate resources responsibly, and become a more strategic and empathetic philanthropic leader.

3% of my annual take-home income.

I always believed that, as a Mexican citizen, my responsibility was to help those in need within my own country—and I still believe that. I think everyone has a responsibility to support their home country, the place where we were born, raised, educated, and shaped. After taking this class, though, I began to consider expanding that purpose. The final project made me realize that I can broaden my impact beyond Mexico, especially since not all countries face the same challenges. As I explored the different charities we could support, I noticed how much I was drawn to staying connected to the UT community. That sparked something in me, and I want to follow that instinct. Through the personal assessment we completed, I realized that the cause that truly motivates me is children. I continue to believe that children are the pillars of society, and anything we do to support them can have a long-lasting impact on their lives and on the lives they influence. In Mexico, education remains a major challenge—public education is weak and limits children’s potential. I will continue supporting that cause. At the same time, I admire the professionalism and depth of many U.S. charities. As a McCombs graduate, staying connected to my network and aligning my interests with organizations supported by the UT community feels like a meaningful way to stay engaged while making a real impact on children’s lives. My giving goal is to begin donating financially after my second year of professional work. I plan to allocate 2–5% of my income to charitable organizations, and ideally, I would love to get involved with one that could expand its reach into Mexico. In a perfect world, I would support an organization with the professionalism of U.S. charities but with direct impact in Mexico. I believe there is tremendous potential for Mexican alumni to rally behind a mission like that.