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!

Héloïse Garry

Columbia University

Spring
2020

I plan to give my time to serve an educational cause or to give my money to an organization whose purpose is to educate girls in areas in which they are deprived of schooling.

Helen Chalhoub

Emory University

Spring
2020

I plan to give towards and organization that helps the betterment of those marginalized in society. Throughout my career, I hope to continue this effort, ceaselessly giving to those who need it most.

Hannah Masraff

University of Texas

Spring
2020

I pledge to be involved in philanthropy my whole life through volunteering. When I graduate from law school and make my own income, I pledge to give 10% of my income to nonprofits.

Griffin Patterson

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2020

I pledge to give back by intentionally engaging with the philanthropic and service community after graduation. Initially, that will mean volunteering and researching where to invest my time in order to have the most powerful and meaningful impact. In the future, that will mean giving back financially in order to support organizations that provide resources and support to causes about which I am passionate. As a result of entering the corporate sphere after graduation, I also want to intentionally engage with my company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives and engage in our days of giving and service throughout the year.

Grace Ferguson

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2020

I pledge to share my resources with my church and with other organizations whose mission I find compelling. I pledge to donate my time and talents whenever possible and I hope to become an advocate for children in need.

Freya Forstall

Stanford University

Spring
2020

I commit to identifying specific issues which particularly interest me and that others may not perceive as being important to address, and channeling a portion of my excess wealth to those issues. I do not anticipate having a lot of wealth to donate from my prospective career in Education as a teacher, but I commit to giving back as much as I can both financially and in other ways through advocacy and volunteer work.