Upon graduation, I plan on donating 10% of my income to a non-profit organization I deem worthy and able to accept my donation. I also plan on donating 10% of my time to volunteering for a local non-profit.
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
Search for Giving Goals
Over 4,200+ course participants have written giving goals in a demonstration of leadership!
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2020
If I make less than $65,000 a year I will give any money leftover, and try to budget in additional giving, but try to focus on my own financial security and savings. If I make between $65,000 and $80,000 a year I will give $200 a month to charity. After making $80,000 per year, I will divide my additional money with 60% going to savings and 40% going to some kind of charitable giving. This can include personal projects of giving (a scholarship, buying lunch for someone experiencing homelessness). I will try to volunteer monthly no matter how much I make. And, I believe most importantly, I will work and live in the most ethical way possible (trying to make my personal purchases and work also be serving the greater global community and not hurting people or our planet).
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2020
I recognize that I can use my income to do a significant amount of good. I will donate 100% of my income above $40,000 to whichever organizations can most effectively use it to improve the lives of others. If I earn less than $40,000, I will donate 10% of my income. I take this pledge freely, openly, and sincerely.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2020
I pledge to support charitable organizations that I am passionate about by donating as much volunteer time and percentage of my annual income as possible. In the future, I hope to work on the board of directors at a non-profit, either on a national or international level. I will commit to a life of public service in the non-profit sector in order to make sustainable changes for those in need.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2020
I pledge to move through the world conscious of the effect I can have and to always keep in mind that I am privileged to have reached the places I have. I will commit my time to serving those with less opportunity than me, and when possible, I will give monetary contributions. I pledge to focus my life on improving the lives of others and spending a significant portion of time on that. I will also dedicate one year of my life to a service project or organisation that I feel truly helps others and changes lives for the better. I will remember always that the greatest goal in life is to improve the condition of other people’s.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2020
I pledge to donate at least 5% of my total income beginning 1 year after I land my first full-time job. I plan to donate this money to nonprofits in the fields of healthcare, homelessness, and social justice. I believe that healthcare and housing are human rights and that everybody deserves full and free access to those essential services; furthermore, social justice is especially important to me as a queer woman and I hope to help my LGBTQ+ siblings around the globe fully realize their potential and come to a place of love and understanding with themselves and within their communities. In addition to these monetary donations, I pledge to give my time at least once per year to organizations that help further the interests expressed above.