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

"What a sweet reminder of this pledge! I've definitely given and volunteered in the last 6yrs. It's been a joy to continue the journey of generosity since graduating from undergrad. I'm back in grad school and I am looking forward to finishing my MSW. There will be new ways I give back to the community!"

"Thank you so much for this valuable reminder of my Giving Pledge. I'm proud to say I've dedicated several hours of volunteer time & services to Arts Education non-profits and will continue to live out this pledge"

“Thanks for reaching out––I'm actively still volunteering at two non-profits now in NYC (one free food service called "Wellfare" and a neighborhood homeless shelter)”

"Thank you for your email! The Philanthropy Lab was a life changing experience for me. I ended up joining the board of Malawi Children's Village to run the women empowerment program, which is what the Philanthropy Lab grant was for. In August, I am going to Malawi to see the project in action!"

"I was so happy to see this email pop into my inbox, it feels like a lifetime ago I was in this course. I appreciate all that I learned in this class and have taken its messages with me through these past 5 years. I do plan on maintaining the promise I made in this class"

"Thanks for this reminder. I actually still have a handwritten version of that note on the magnet board in my home office."

Search for Giving Goals

Over 4,200+ course participants have written giving goals in a demonstration of leadership!

Rebecca Weinberger

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2020

I plan to continue learning more about the non-profit sector and to continue volunteering for organizations geared towards homelessness. Personally, I cannot realistically think of a certain giving percentage at this moment in my life, but I plan to continue advocating for and working with organizations who are mission driven towards making an impact. I definitely plan to give regularly as my career develops.

Rachel Vaughan

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2020

I pledge to help my family financially after graduating college while still sporadically supporting women’s rights nonprofits. I will increase this contribution to more meaningful, recurring amounts when I feel my financial situation permits. I also aim to carry some cash on me to help those on the streets who ask.

Zander Alley

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2020

I pledge to give money to causes that impact my local community every year.

Priyanka Desai

Emory University

Spring
2020

Once I graduate, I pledge to donate a percentage of my monthly rent to a nonprofit that tackles homelessness in the city that I live in. Over time, I hope to publicize this pledge and encourage co-workers to follow suit.

Michael Dinan

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2020

My Giving Goal is to use my income and time in the future to support organizations that I believe will make a difference in saving the planet and the wildlife that inhabits it. I also wish to give a significant portion of my income towards medical research to help cure diseases that I think will have a significant positive impact on the lives of all human beings.

Michael Costigan

Columbia University

Spring
2020

I pledge to primarily support organizations that support higher education opportunities for incarcerated teens and adults in our prison systems. I seek to give 10% of my income to platforms I find around the world as I graduate and began earning an income.