Within the next five years, I will begin to give every six months to a philanthropic cause of my choice. I expect the amount to vary depending on my salary and personal budget at that time. While some of the organizations I choose to give to will remain consistent, I also expect many of them to vary as I learn more about local philanthropies near places I live as I move across the US. I also plan to maintain my current system of weekly volunteering for local philanthropic organizations.
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
- Winter
- 2018
Once I have a job, I pledge to give at least 15% of my income to charities and volunteer at least 8 hours per month. I don’t plan to have a very high-paying job, but if I get a significant raise or once I save enough to ensure my children’s educations, I hope to increase my giving to 30%.
Anonymous
- Winter
- 2018
My personal giving goal will revolve start as a volunteer-based goal and then evolve into a combined volunteerism and monetary goal. My reasoning behind this is that I will be in school for a little while and will probably be in not the most stable of financial situations. From present day- 5 years: 20 hours of service per year 5 years- 10 years from now: 15 hours of service per year + 2% income to charity 10-15 years from now: 15 hours of service per year + 3% income to charity 15-20 years from now: 15 hours of service per year + 4% income to charity
Anonymous
- Winter
- 2018
My goal is to spend my time to engage in political advocacy for redistributive policies to reduce income inequality, and to volunteer my time with community benefit organizations that I believe in.
Anonymous
- Winter
- 2018
My giving goal: I would like to donate all of the money I inherited from my grandfather (approx 25% per year for the next four years) by the time I turn thirty.
Anonymous
- Winter
- 2018
My giving goal is two-pronged. I hope to give 1.5% of my income to 501(c)3 organizations immediately after graduation – which will increase in proportion and dollar value as my career and financial health improves. I also hope to give at least 104 hours of community service or other civic engagement (community boards, advisory councils… etc) per year starting upon graduation.