I pledge to give at least 75 hours a year (about 1.5 hours a week) to volunteering to different nonprofits and organizations. I plan to start giving 5% of my income after the first two years of my career, and 10% after the first 10 years. My focus will be on environmental issues as well as food sovereignty, with an emphasis on grassroots and locally-based 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
- Fall
- 2018
I pledge to give 10% of my salary to nonprofits and volunteer at least 2 hours a week after graduation. My focus will be on nonprofits working to end human trafficking and modern-day slavery, particularly those that are working to end the greater systemic issues regarding these causes.
Anonymous
- Fall
- 2018
I pledge to donate 10% of my income to an organization(s) I am passionate about and willing to advocate and support once I have a secure job that keeps me financially stable. I also pledge to support and donate to organizations that have impacted my family and friends.Â
Anonymous
- Fall
- 2018
I pledge to contribute my time and, as I pass through varying stages of financial stability, appropriate portions of my salary back to the community. The community which I hope to impact may change over time, but I will always keep in mind why I’m contributing. With a combination of passion and a more utilitarian approach to examining nonprofits, I hope to play whatever role I can in attacking the root causes of poverty and many other socioeconomic injustices that are prevalent in society today.
Anonymous
- Fall
- 2018
I pledge to continue to live by my favorite quote “let no one come to you without living feeling better.†Such simple acts of kindness can blossom, shine, and ultimately become contagious. I not only pledge to give my time, talent, and treasure whenever and wherever I feel necessary, but always contribute to areas and organizations that align with my values, giving from the heart.
Anonymous
- Fall
- 2018
I pledge to commit my time, energy and career to helping those who are affected by institutional injustices. When I have a steady salary I will donate 10% of my income to nonprofits that are making a positive impact by addressing the root causes of these institutional injustices.