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!

Brittney Boucher

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2020

After graduation, I would like to have two major lines of effort in my philanthropic giving. My first line of effort will be based around personal volunteer time and my second line of effort will be based around my personal monetary donations. To achieve this, I would like to develop a portfolio of non-profits in order to spread my efforts throughout the year. During my first year, I would like to find one local environmental non-profit to volunteer between 4-5 hours per month and one or two additional non-profits to donate at 2-4% of my annual income. Over the next 5-10 years, I would like to continue my volunteer time through being a board member as well as increasing my monetary donation up to 5-7% of my annual income.

Benjamin Steingold

Emory University

Spring
2020

I pledge to use any extra financial capacity that I may have to support organizations whose work will help to better the local and global communities. Further, I pledge to dedicate my time and skills to help those organizations in whatever capacity I can contribute.

Ben Finnstrom

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2020

Upon graduation, I intend to invest my time and resources in causes that I find meaningful. My goal is to leverage these investments as a way to elevate others.

Ben Beverly

University of Texas - McCombs

Spring
2020

I plan to take an active philanthropic approach upon graduation. To me, this means donating my time, talents and treasure to organizations that align with my goals for the world. Specifically, impact investing has taken on a new meaning for me. This semester has reiterated that philanthropy can (and should!) occur at all stages of your life and regardless of your wealth level.

Anonymous

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2020

My giving goal is to have philanthropy in the forefront of my mind through all stages of my life. To break this goal down into more tangible action steps, financially, I pledge to donate 10% (at least) of my monthly income to a different non-profit organization every month. Socially, I pledge to shop ethically and invest in entrepreneurs and non-profits through both learning about them myself and advocating for organizations that have social missions in which I believe strongly. I pledge to discuss charitable giving and volunteering with my family, friends, and peers, and focus on spending my time in ways that benefit others for the better. Professionally, I pledge to only work for organizations that offer services that bring good into the world and launch my own organizations that do that as well.

Anonymous

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2020

I pledge to set a quantitative giving goal upon attaining a full-time job and hold a mindset of sharing my intellectual and financial resources with my community.