I commit to giving 5-10% of my net income each year, once I am a salaried employee, to a variety of nonprofits, including, but not limited to, my local/home church, organizations that foster leadership in youth, and educational development programs for underserved communities. While I am in graduate school, I pledge to give my time intentionally to local organizations wherever I move and, if able, to donate more financially to organizations of my choice. Prior to anchoring down financially or time-wise in organizations, I promise to critically evaluate multiple aspects of their organizations and be firm in my belief that the organization fulfills its mission through financial transparency, leadership, and sustainability modeling. One day, as my parents modeled for me, I hope to give more than 10% of my net income and have the heart posture of partnering with nonprofit organizations that don’t make giving feel like a financial sacrifice, but rather a mission I have been called to answer.

My giving goal is to commit at least 5% of my annual income to nonprofits that demonstrate clear impact, transparency, and a focus on long-term solutions. As I grow in my career, I plan to increase this percentage and be intentional about supporting organizations that address root issues such as mental health, access to resources, and support for children and families. In addition to financial giving, I plan to use my skills in advertising and communication to help nonprofits strengthen their messaging, expand their reach, and better tell their stories. I’ve learned that strong organizations don’t always have the visibility they need, and I want to play a role in helping them grow their impact. My goal is for philanthropy to be a consistent and non-negotiable part of my life – not something I do occasionally, but something that reflects my values in how I choose to spend my time, money, and energy. I don’t just want to give –I want to give intentionally and in a way that creates lasting impact.

I pledge to tithe my income moving forward.

After graduation, I want to give 10% of my salary and continue giving my time as much as I can, with other commitments

I pledge to volunteer at least 2 hours each month with a local non-profit to give back to my community, wherever that may be in the future. Using my education and talents, I hope to alleviate needs in my community through this dedicated time. In addition to donating my time, I pledge to give at least 5% of any earned income each month, the amount depending on my stage of life. These donations will be given to philanthropies and church communities that I decide are in need and align with my values, based on my learnings from my Philanthropy Lab class.

During my PhD in sociology, I will focus on studying barriers to upward mobility in Hispanic immigrant communities and use that work to inform policy. Within the next five years, I will produce research that centers lived experiences while also using quantitative methods to support it. I will turn that research into policy briefs, identify decision makers, and build relationships with stakeholders through conferences and professional networks. This is realistic during my PhD and immediately after because I will already be conducting and presenting research. At the same time, I will commit at least five hours each week to direct community work. This will include translating, mentoring students, helping with school-related needs, and being available for conversations when support is needed. I grew up low-income and will not have a stable income during my PhD, so my impact in the next five years will come from my time and skills rather than money. Within ten years, I will be a professor teaching diversity-focused courses while continuing my research. By that point, I will be contributing to policy discussions and training students to do the same work. Within ten to twenty years, I will take on a stronger leadership role in the community and mentor students in research so they can study issues that matter and push for policy change.