I feel it is my civic duty to do what I can to give back and help those in my local community. In addition, I feel that I have a duty to be a responsible global citizen. I pledge to volunteer a minimum of ten hours per month in my local community working with organizations that focus on community engagement or youth empowerment. I also pledge to allocate 5% of my annual earnings after graduation to charitable giving. I will give 4% of my annual earnings to causes that a.) support my local community in some capacity or b.) work to protect and preserve our planet. The remaining 1% of my annual earnings will be allocated for “spontaneous giving” or charitable donations made at the behest of friends and family. I will review this goal annually to determine if I am able to increase this percentage.
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
- 2017
I aim to commit to a service-centric career in which I am advocating for food justice and actively working to eliminate food insecurity. Additionally, I also pledge to devote time to local organizations (regardless of where I am in the world). In my travels, I would like to volunteer with nonprofits and aid them wherever possible. I also look forward to moving in the future (whether within the United States or abroad) and volunteering in those locations. Regardless of income level post-college, I pledge to donate a minimum of 10% of my annual earnings to a non-profit organization. In addition, I pledge to donate additional income to advocacy groups regardless of their status as non-profit organizations. I also plan on teaching my future children about philanthropic practices, and I will ask them to donate 10% of their earnings (from allowance or their job[s]) to a charitable cause of their choice.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2017
As a former professional ballet dancer, I pledge to allocate growing portions of my expendable income to support arts and arts education. In the years following my graduation from college, I fully expect the role of giving to play an increasingly prominent part in my life. From philanthropic giving contextual to my income flexibility, to volunteer efforts on behalf of the arts world, I look forward to investing my time and resources to support a community that has essentially made me who I am; I will commit myself to nurturing this unique, global family of creatives that will forever be dependent upon the cyclical generosity of one another.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2017
I recognize that my ability to give will change over time, but I pledge to start now. I pledge to volunteer at least 5 hours each month and to donate 5% of my total salary to charity within the next three years. I hope to reach a level of success that allows me to provide for my loved ones and to invest my time in causes that provide for those who cannot provide for themselves —if I can do this, I know my life will be that much more enriched.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2017
Once I am financially stable and through with gradate school, I pledge to give a give significant percentage of my annual salary to to a philanthropic organization that I see making a difference in the lives of others for the better. Until that point, I will continue to volunteer at local non profits, giving my time and services in a non monetary form.
Anonymous
- Spring
- 2017
I pledge to live my life with a philanthropic mindset; no matter the resources I have, I will give generously and thoughtfully. Once I am a recipient of a steady income, I will prayerfully consider nonprofit organizations that sustainably contribute to and fight against “wicked problems” both my community and in communities around the world. Once I identify two organizations, I will give 10 percent of my income every year to them. I also pledge to spend four hours a month (hopefully more) dedicated to immersing myself in whatever community I am living in & serve them in a way that promotes sustained relationship instead of one-way volunteering.