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!

Mackenzie Collins

Columbia University

Spring
2020

When I am financially sound and have paid off my student loan debt I pledge to give 1% of my income to organizations of my own choosing.

Lindsay Sullivan

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2020

I pledge to always give back to two areas of need – one social cause and one personal cause. I want to pledge both my time and my finances toward these goals. My pledge is to volunteer my time at least once a month to help the causes of my choosing. Financially, I pledge to donate 1% of my income every year until my student loans are paid off, and I will donate 5% of my income once my loans are paid. I would like to learn to apply the knowledge I have gained in my MBA to help others, and so I pledge to focus at least one year of my donated time on education and/or business development.

Lauren Devlin

Emory University

Spring
2020

I pledge to give philanthropically in three ways after graduation: time, treasure, and talent. I aim to volunteer at least once a month for a cause that I am passionate about, most likely education, in the local area wherever I live. I pledge to donate part of my income, the amount still undetermined, every month to philanthropy. I will always use my talents and experience to help whichever organization I find myself affiliated with through volunteering.

Laine Walters Young

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2020

My household currently gives 2.5% percent of its income to our churches. I would like to increase that by half a percent per year until our household reaches at least 10%. I would also like to diversify the recipients of our giving so that some goes toward creative educational projects.

Kelly Hansard

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2020

My giving goal is to give, my time, talent and/or treasure to philanthropic causes that I value. Minimally I aim to give annually, but ideally I would give my time and talent on a monthly, or even weekly, basis.

Kayla Uytengsu

Stanford University

Spring
2020

I pledge to donate 5% of my income once I am financially stable, but also plan to volunteer my time and resources to help nonprofits both locally and internationally that tackle issues I am passionate about.