I pledge to think intentionally about each organization I give to in my lifetime. I plan to donate an amount of my salary that is commiserate with my personal situation and the amount I am earning, and adjust this actively as it grows or changes. If I pursue a career in public service, I understand that I will have less personal money to donate, however, time spent in a career in public service is also a form of giving that I consider important.
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
- 2019
I pledge to dedicate time each year to volunteering and helping those in my community. I will continue to volunteer each year and give money when I have a stable job. I pledge to donate a certain percentage of my income each year, which will be determined based on the amount of income and my living situation.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2019
I plan to continue to serve on the board of Partners In Health and the new University of Global Health. I plan to continue to volunteer for non profit organizations that serve marginalized populations and to donate at least 10% of all income earned. I also pledge to continue to involve my children in our philanthropic giving and to mentor others who want to give time talent and treasure.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2019
As I am just starting out at Stanford, exploring possible passions and paths forward, I’m not exactly sure what the future holds. However, I do know this: I pledge to give at least 10% of my earnings per year to philanthropic causes. This action doesn’t start when I graduate and if I get a high paying job, but right now. We must lead by action, and we must act with leadership, in order to carry out our own values and inspire others to do the same. Ideally, my career will follow the principles of 80,000 hours, as I invest my professional pursuits towards social causes. However, if I end up doing management consulting or product management, I at the least pledge: I will earn to give, especially towards causes of human rights and environmental justice. This philanthropy can be aimed all the way from highbrow foundations to individuals I encounter in the street. I pledge action and empathy.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2019
Some time in the future I hope to be able to give back substantially to my community. I mean that I would like to be able to furnish new housing projects for lower income families I was raised around and really do something meaningful for the people that raised me and always had their homes open to me.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2019
My goal is to give at least 10% of my future salary to charitable organizations as well as actively volunteer or be involved in the organizations I give to