This class has given me the education and motivation to become a more engaged, responsible donor, and it has allowed me to understand the impression that conscientious giving can have on the community, especially in difficult times such as the present. After graduation, I pledge to give 8% of my income to organizations that serve causes I’m passionate about, and I plan to increase this percentage once I become more financially stable. In addition to monetary donations, I pledge to donate my time and other resources to these causes depending on their needs. I will practice due diligence when selecting the organizations and strive to build long-term relationships with them. I will also begin to review my giving practices annually to assess the effectiveness of my donations. Finally, I will engage my family, friends, and coworkers in a discussion about the importance of giving well and being a responsible donor.

TCU’s Nature of Giving Course has convicted me of the complexity behind nonprofits and the importance of being all-in with your philanthropic mission. As a result, financially, I pledge to give 10% of my annual gross income to nonprofits starting with my first paycheck. This course has proven though that donations are just the beginning to giving effectively. That is why I pledge to also be diligent and strategic in my annual evaluation of potential nonprofits and past donations, to be compassionate and attentive in understanding the underserved people and causes of my community, and to volunteer deliberately and earnestly to the causes I admire. Lastly, I recognize that giving occasionally extends beyond a traditional nonprofit such as a friend in need or a homeless woman with a young child. I pledge to be cognizant and generous in those abrupt yet meaningful times of giving. Ultimately, I pledge to see the immense worth and potential in all humans, and that this philosophy would be reflected in my charitable actions. Finally, through my commitment to my nonprofits, I hope to spread awareness of the importance of philanthropy to those around me.

Starting with my first paycheck after school, I pledge to responsibly give a minimum of 5% of my salary directly to non-profit organizations. Once certain expenses and debts are paid, I pledge to increase the percentage I am donating to 8% of my income – hopefully by the beginning of 2021. I hope to increase this percentage further over time, proportionally to increases in my annual income. I intend to thoughtfully consider which organizations I give to and ensure that they align with my core beliefs and my mission to help provide equitable education and opportunity to all children. I also pledge to make an effort to educate those around me on responsible giving and encourage them to meaningfully consider their giving practices.

Once I have graduated and secured a steady paycheck (salary or hourly) I pledge to give 5% of my first paycheck and those after to organizations that I am passionate about. As my life and financial stability progress, I hope to raise this donation to at least 10% of my income. Additionally, I pledge to donate my time to organizations I support, ideally five hours a month. Due to my current passions and values, I see myself donating to groups working with educating those in underserved areas and cancer research. I pledge to practice due diligence when deciding where to give and will encourage and teach those around me how to do the same.

My personal goal is to give of my time first, money second towards individuals and organizations working to assist those who are down on their luck by no choice or fault of their own. When starting my career, I will begin by giving five percent of my gross income and would like to increase that amount as I gain financial stability in my career. I strive to partner with organizations that diligently execute their missions impacting both local and global communities as we work together to repair the world.

My giving goal, at least in a monetary sense, is aimed at the future as I will be in school for another three years. However, as I claim my role as a law student, I hope to do at least 150 hours of pro bono work over three years. I would like to use my legal education to help those who cannot afford legal services through a domestic violence project, human rights clinic, or juvenile justice work. After I graduate, I hope to donate 5% of my income to causes that I love like youth education and other opportunities that break the poverty cycle. Once I gain solid financial footing, I would like to donate 10% of my earnings and increase that amount incrementally as my salary increases. Further, I hope to continue doing pro bono work anywhere from 2-5 hours a week. Maybe later in my career with the support of my spouse, I can practice law part-time and do pro bono work the rest of the time.