I commit to giving back in three main ways – monetarily, professionally, and extracurricularly. Monetarily, I aim to donate to a different NPO cause each year. Professionally, I will integrate service into my professional career, such as through NPO consulting. Extracurricularly, I will remain an involved, committed long-term volunteer to a local NPO.

In the future, I want my giving to be based on relationships and a willingness to serve rather than just an obligation. After seeing the behind the scenes work it takes to create impact in nonprofits, I hope to stay involved in organizations that serve and build trust in communities. I think inspiring communities to take initiative is one thing that our nonprofits this semester did very well. In the future, I want to give consistently and learn more about causes that are outside of just my interests. My goal after college is to work in the nonprofit sector with a focus on foster care. I’ve become more aware of the challenges that children in the foster system face during this class and that grew the desire I have to advocate for them even more. I want to be part of an organization that advocates for these children and helps provide them with stability, family, and faith. Whether that looks like supporting foster families, helping with placement resources, or creating programs that invest in these kids, I want my work to make kids feel more seen in the midst of a very crazy system. This is an area where philanthropy can be deeply personal and impactful, and I hope to approach it with both compassion and commitment. I also hope to use my career to increase my ability to give. Helping nonprofits tell their stories and connect with donors is something I have experience in, but I want to be able to give with finances and resources as well. As we talked about in class, sustainable impact often comes from strategic thinking and considering breadth versus depth, not just short term success. Because of that, I want to be thoughtful about where I invest my resources. Something that it’s important to me is supporting organizations that prioritize teaching and creating lasting change for children and families. Our class conversations also highlighted the importance of listening to communities instead of assuming we know what they need. Ten or twenty years from now, I hope to have similar and growing values of service, compassion, and intentionality. My hope is that revisiting this vision will continue to inspire me to serve and give in a way that creates change and growth.

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My goal is to give in a way that creates meaningful, immediate impact for organizations that are doing important work but may be struggling to secure consistent funding. I am especially drawn to local, community-based nonprofits that are making a direct difference, but often operate with limited resources. I want my giving to focus on organizations where even a smaller contribution can go a long way. Through my experience in this class, I have seen how some nonprofits are doing everything they can to stay afloat while still serving their communities at a high level. That has shifted my perspective on giving. I now prioritize impact and need over size or name recognition. In addition to financial contributions, I hope to give my time and leadership by serving on nonprofit boards later in my life. I want to be actively involved in helping organizations grow, make strategic decisions, and continue serving their communities in a sustainable way. Being part of a board would allow me to contribute not just financially, but also through my skills and commitment.

The root of how I want to give throughout my life is centered on my values of faith and compassion. After graduation, I plan on giving about 5-10% of my income to the local church I become involved with. Additionally, I want to research local organizations focused on human services, international humanitarian aid, and Christian outreach. My goal is to support at least one international and local organization each year through financial giving and volunteer service.

Right now, as a senior graduating in December, I’ve started thinking more intentionally about what giving looks like in my life. Before this class, I never truly contemplated what selfless giving would look like for me. Outside of the occasional organization volunteering, it was hard to be intentional with my time and money as a busy college student. Since taking this class, I’ve realized that giving should be consistent and reflect what I truly care about. My Goal: Once I’m employed, I hope to give about $100 a month to a nonprofit. Ideally one that I’m actively involved in. I also want to volunteer about an hour each week, whether that’s at a library or with local organizations, because especially this semester, I’ve learned that giving time can be just as meaningful as giving money. I would even like to integrate giving into my weekly routine, like participating in food drop offs while grocery shopping if available. Something as simple as picking up an extra pack of pasta is a small but intentional way to give in my day to day life. In the meantime, even though I don’t have much to give financially, I still want to stay engaged. After this class, and going into my final semester where I have a bit more free time, I want to be intentional with how I use it. I’d love to volunteer with Elizabeth House Maternity Home, since that organization really stood out to me and aligns with the kind of impact I hope to make.