I intend to make philanthropic giving an integral part of my life, recognizing that giving requires a level of sacrifice that may not always be comfortable. To this end, I pledge to donate a minimum of 12% of my income to charitable causes, which I will begin two years (or sooner) after starting a full-time job. During those two years, my primary commitment is to use my financial resources to give back to my parents and family. Beyond devoting finances, I also pledge to devote a minimum of 4 hours per month of my time to volunteer/work for non-profit causes. Ultimately, I plan to start my own non-profit, and I want that to be the hallmark of my philanthropic legacy.

I believe that giving well requires sacrifice. I pledge to pursue giving as a lifestyle which will include an intentional evaluation of my giving in terms of my time, talents and, financial contributions on an annual basis. By setting aside 10% of my net wages into a dedicated account upon receiving my first paycheck, I will donate to worthy organizations using the skills and evaluation process that I used in the Nature of Giving class at TCU. Ultimately, I want to give in a way that not only benefits the organizations I am assisting but also encourages others around me to give in ways that are meaningful to them.

I believe giving is a lifestyle. Thus, I pledge to give in my daily interaction with others, financially to non-profits, through time, and involvement in my community. I believe that impactful giving should be challenging to the giver, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with sacrifices financially and with time. I pledge to give 15% of my income to non-profits, a church, or other philanthropic endeavors that I have thoroughly researched to verify their effectiveness as an organization. To ensure the positive impact of my giving, I plan to conduct an annual review of the non-profits I give to, my own financial status, and commitments in the community to assess the state of my giving and evaluate areas to change or grow. With incremental increases in my income throughout my career, I plan to increase the percentage of my income that I give away. By implementing the practice of giving, I hope to grow to see giving as an opportunity and gift rather than a burden.

During this semester, I have learned what it means to give well and the importance of finding your “why” in doing so; it takes the heart AND the mind in order to give well. I pledge to give 5% of my annual income upon receiving my first paycheck and intend to use the research skills I have learned in this course to intentionally select the organizations I give to. At the end of each year, I intend to re-evaluate my giving ability and increase the amount as I am able. I hope to cultivate a true heart of giving and connect to my giving in a way that is bigger than myself, which is why I will donate my time to volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours a month, in hopes that I will be able to serve more and work towards serving on the board of a nonprofit. Through all of this, I finally aim to educate and encourage those around me to give well – whether that be asking coworkers to match my donation or encouraging my family and friends to volunteer.