I hope to give a portion of my income relative to what I am making and how my basic living conditions are able to be met. For example, if I am able to live comfortably but not afford much else, I hope to give around 5-7% of my income. If I am living with space for luxury, I hope to donate more, relative to my income. I also hope to continue volunteering in my community and educating myself on political matters related to economic injustice.
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
I would like to set aside a percentage of my monthly income to give back to charities in my community, but I would also like to set monthly goals regarding my physical engagement with those organizations (for example, actively participating for 2 or 4 hours every month).
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2026
As of right now, I cannot completely guarantee how much I will be giving in the future. However, the best estimate that I feel comfortable striving towards is 5-10% of my annual income, regardless of how much or how little I make. Also, I hope to at least a couple times a month going to a local food bank at the bare minimum to help out, or if something else really catches my eye I’d do service there as well.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2026
I pledge to dedicate an hour a month to volunteering for the next forty years.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2026
If not a lawyer: 1% of my income (roughly $1,000). If and when I am a lawyer: do pro-bono, and give 2%.