My giving goal is to volunteer for local area non-profits that are education based at least once a year, and then if I am able to, also make monetary donations to charities, giving away at least 1% of my income each year.
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
My giving goal is that I would like to give 5-10% of my income each year, however I realize that this may be at some points too high and at other too low over the next 20 years depending on my income and cost of living. Therefore, I would like to stay engaged with organizations that matter to me, be it through volunteering or pro bono work (if I am qualified). I would like to keep giving to organizations that I feel have had positive impacts on me as a way to give back and help future students have similar experiences – Bishop Brady High School, St. Pauls School Advanced Studies Program, and whatever other organizations impact me over the next 2 years. I also want to remember to give to organizations that fight food insecurity in my own community (whatever that will be), as that is a cause that I feel strongly about.
Anonymous
- Winter
- 2018
My giving goal involves both volunteering and monetary donations. Because local causes and community are important to me, I’ll aim to volunteer for local charities at least every other month for causes involving social justice, mentoring, and community building. Hopefully volunteering at various organizations will give me context as to where I want to make monetary donations to, and I hope to give 5 percent or more of my annual income to charity. Moreover, I hope not to confine myself to these goals, and to give where/when I feel is necessary and important.
Anonymous
- Winter
- 2018
My future giving goal will be to give 10% of my income to one charity or foundation that I feel is doing effective work on education and empowerment of children in the local community that I end up living in. I also pledge 5 hours of volunteer time for myself per month to any local charity or organization in need.
Anonymous
- Winter
- 2018
In the next 20 years, I plan to: – Continue tithing 10% of my income to whatever church that I attend – Work for a non-profit or foundation – Give another 10% of my income monthly to a cause that I care about – Volunteer time on the weekends at church or another organization
Anonymous
- Winter
- 2018
In the future, I’d like to donate a minimum of $100 annually to a philanthropy of my choice. Additionally, I’d hope to volunteer at least a handful of times each year. I will strive to promote philanthropy within my communities and on social media as well.