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!

Anonymous

Texas A&M University

Spring
2020

I pledge to be a voice for change and challenge myself to help others daily. Once I become financially stable, I aim to give 5-10% of my income to nonprofits and increase that percentage over time. I challenge myself to teach my current and future family, friends, and community about the importance of strategic philanthropy and to serve on at least one nonprofit board of directors by 2035. I vow to review this statement annually to stay true to my word and create a new giving goal every 5 years. Finally, I pledge to read this statement with my future wife and children and challenge them to make similar commitments.

Anonymous

Stanford University

Spring
2020

While I do not know what my future may hold for me financially and personally, I still would like to pledge to give at minimum, 5% of my yearly income once I have a job that provides me with a salary. I also would hope to donate 50% of my income upon my death, given that no family members would need immediate financial help in order to survive comfortably. A further goal I would like to set is that I will donate to organizations that provide systemic change while still aiding in direct services. I do not have a certain category or sector that I feel needs it most, but would like to promise that I will be giving to organizations that are providing the most relief or are the most salient given the time.

Anonymous

Stanford University

Spring
2020

Over the next year, I plan to work full-time for a philanthropic organization with hopes to be working in a a more permanent position within the industry by 15 years after undergrad. Personally I plan to donate anywhere from 5-10% of my salary to organizations that I see doing work and that I identify with. I am particularly interested in supporting organizations that work in promoting education equality for students in disadvantaged communities.

Anonymous

Stanford University

Spring
2020

I think that volunteering is an important way of giving, as well as occasional monetary donations for causes that I am not directly a part of or have access to. I am extremely passionate in education and pledge to help with the cause of helping girls across the world acquire quality education beyond basic/primary school.

Anonymous

Stanford University

Spring
2020

I pledge to volunteer at my local charities and nonprofits every year and donate 5% of my starting work salary to nonprofits, hopefully increasing this percentage over time!

Anonymous

Stanford University

Spring
2020

I pledge to give as much as possible while still remaining financially stable, so the percentage of my income that I give will vary based on my income. I want to give to causes that I am passionate about, like education equity, as well as to global poverty and health efforts, causes which are not as visible to me, living in the United States, but causes where the money donated can have large, transformational effects on people’s lives.