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!

Cheryl Wang

Columbia University

Spring
2020

I pledge to give significant time and money in my life to non-profit organizations working to help underserved communities around the world meet basic living needs. With an ever-increasing wealth gap globally, making sure living needs such as food, health, and shelter are met is something I find particularly important.

Catalina Murguia

Emory University

Spring
2020

I pledge to volunteer 5 hours per month of my time in areas that I am passionate about. The upcoming year, I will be starting my full-time job and one of my goals is to find a place in the community that I can really create relationships and give of my time. I am dedicating 5 hours per month to help out this community or organization. Additionally, once I get settled I would love to donate a 2% of my salary to immigrants organizations and environmental initiatives. Eventually, I hope to slowly increase this percentage as I figure out where to strategically place my money.

Cassie Chen

University of Texas

Spring
2020

Upon completing graduate school, I pledge to donate at least 5% of my time volunteering and 5% of my income back to the community that has helped me become the person I am today.

Caroline Cohen

Emory University

Spring
2020

In the short term, I pledge to volunteer at least 5 times a year for a charity of my choice. Once I have a stable income, I pledge to donate 10% of my salary to charities I am passionate about and continue to volunteer as much as possible (still a minimum of 5 times a year). I will one day return to Honduras and work for Global Brigades whether I become a dentist in my professional career or not.

Carmina Hachenburg

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2020

My giving goal is to volunteer in local non-profit organizations, learn more about their impact, and think about the role that they have played in my home country. I also would like to support organizations whose impact has changed the lives of individuals, families, and communities, especially those organizations who played an indispensable role in the recovery after natural disasters in my home country.

Caitlin Palmer

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2020

I pledge to continue regular philanthropic support of diverse nonprofit organizations, direct giving to socio-economically disadvantaged populations, and reparations. I am committed to sustaining and increasing my giving, and to developing a focused strategy to maximize my impact.