My goal is to donate a minimum of 10% of my yearly income to grassroots organizations once I graduate college. While I understand that there is a need for funding both domestically and abroad, I will likely use this portion of my income to support organizations doing localized work in developing countries. I will be sure to do thorough research to find organizations that empower citizens in developing countries and provide them with positive and sustainable solutions to any existing issues. I will aim to make a relationship with these organizations to get a good sense of how the money that I am contributing is being used. In terms of my personal time, I hope to volunteer for about 8 hours a month in organizations within my own community. I plan on volunteering my time at an organization that caters to the most pressing needs in whichever city or region I am residing in at that time.
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!
Byron Dondoyano
- Winter
- 2020
For my giving goal, I plan on following a life of service and teaching preschool. My lived experiences, platform, and passions have led me to make this decision. I know I could pursue a career in consulting or the private sector and make a lot more and give a lot more back, but I know I wouldn’t find the work as fulfilling. As a man of color in the field, I have a unique platform to advocate for change. I struggled with developing a hard number for my giving goal, but I plan to continously learn, grow, and reflect on my giving, hopefully setting a more concrete, tangible goal in the future.
Bennet Vining
- Winter
- 2020
After graduation, I pledge to donate by volunteering my time with nonprofits whose values are important to me- particularly organizations that focus on environmental justice. Once I become established in my career, I would like to donate in monetary efforts by reserving 5% of my disposable income for charitable organizations.
Ayesha Goswamy
- Winter
- 2020
Rather than just “giving back”, I want to spend my career working with non-profits to make a measurable impact on society. In addition to that, I pledge to donate 20% in the first few years of my career and increase the percentage in the following years. I also pledge to do research on the charities I donate to to ensure that I’m donating to a cost efficient nonprofit.
Austin Ash
- Winter
- 2020
My goal is to give 10% of my income as a begin my career and to increase this to 15-20% based off of my income growth. I hope to also serve on the Board for a nonprofit in the future.
Anonymous
- Winter
- 2020
My giving goal is different for my ability to give now and in the future. As I approach and enter adulthood, I would love to give 5% of my yearly salary to a sustainable charity that I believe works to promote greater social good throughout the world. However, until I am able to reach a point of financial stability where that is a possibility, I plan to donate around 15 hours of my time every month to various charitable organizations in my community. For me, giving back to the community is more important at this stage of my life because I can be more involved than I could at an older age, and having youthful volunteers is important to demonstrate our commitment to philanthropy and our community. When I am older and more financially secure, I think it will make more sense for me to donate money instead of, or in conjunction with, time. I also understand that monetary donations stretch very far when donating overseas (if donated properly and sustainably) so I would want to increase my philanthropic impact as I age.