As TCU students, we hope to build upon the school’s mission and become ethical leaders in our community. Through the Nature of Giving course and the advice of guest speakers like the Jeff and Kelly Dillard, Ed Schollmaier, and John Robinson, we have learned of the importance of investing in our community through providing financial support, giving time and labor, and sharing our own expertise and passions. As the 2016 Nature of Giving class, we commit ourselves to giving our time and finances, while maintaining the mindsets of givers throughout our lives. Therefore, I pledge to donate 10% of my monthly personal income to a cause(s) of my choosing. I pledge to practice responsible philanthropy by conducting due diligence before giving to an organization. In addition to financial support, I commit myself to volunteering with organizations in order to foster personal relationships in the community. I will work to better the local and/or international community by establishing at least one partnership with a charitable organization. In order to remain actively engaged, I will review my donations and involvement annually. (I have chosen to sign this giving pledge because I believe it accurately reflects the goals my classmates and I have sought out to achieve this semester, with the intent to continue this pattern of giving in the future.)

As TCU students, we hope to build upon the school’s mission and become ethical leaders in our community. Through the Nature of Giving course and the advice of guest speakers like the Jeff and Kelly Dillard, Ed Schollmaier, and John Robinson, we have learned of the importance of investing in our community through providing financial support, giving time and labor, and sharing our own expertise and passions. As the 2016 Nature of Giving class, we commit ourselves to giving our time and finances, while maintaining the mindsets of givers throughout our lives. Therefore, I pledge to donate 10% of my monthly personal income to a cause(s) of my choosing. I pledge to practice responsible philanthropy by conducting due diligence before giving to an organization. In addition to financial support, I commit myself to volunteering with organizations in order to foster personal relationships in the community. I will work to better the local and/or international community by establishing at least one partnership with a charitable organization. In order to remain actively engaged, I will review my donations and involvement annually. (I chose to sign the class Giving Pledge because it incorporates the three aspects that I am looking for when it comes to my giving in the future. 1. It contains a percentage of my income that I will give a way. After listening to the Dillards, I was very inspired by their story and knew that giving away at least 10% of my income was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I want to make this commitment so it holds me accountable to give, and it also gives me the opportunity to invest my life in an organization that I am passionate about. 2. The Giving Pledge incorporates volunteering your time with an organization and building a relationship with them. I believe that this aspect of the Giving Pledge is ESSENTIAL and something that I hold with a high regard. I desire to have my monetary gift to be given to an organization that I care about. And what better way to find out which organizations I care most about than spending my time investing in them and their mission. 3. The third aspect of the Giving Pledge is something I wouldn’t have thought about before this class, and that is that I will review my donations and involvement annually. I realize now how important that is and how it keeps you accountable to the goals you have with your nonprofit. It also holds you accountable for doing your due diligence and investing in the organization in more ways than one. I believe that this aspect of the Giving Pledge is to be held at a very high standard, because I am sure it would be easy to forget over the years. However, by signing this pledge, I am holding myself accountable to do this year after year.)

As TCU students, we hope to build upon the school’s mission and become ethical leaders in our community. Through the Nature of Giving course and the advice of guest speakers like the Jeff and Kelly Dillard, Ed Schollmaier, and John Robinson, we have learned of the importance of investing in our community through providing financial support, giving time and labor, and sharing our own expertise and passions. As the 2016 Nature of Giving class, we commit ourselves to giving our time and finances, while maintaining the mindsets of givers throughout our lives. Therefore, I pledge to donate 8% of my monthly personal income to a cause(s) of my choosing. I pledge to practice responsible philanthropy by conducting due diligence before giving to an organization. In addition to financial support, I commit myself to volunteering with organizations in order to foster personal relationships in the community. I will work to better the local and/or international community by establishing at least one partnership with a charitable organization. In order to remain actively engaged, I will review my donations and involvement annually. (I genuinely believe in the power of philanthropy to transform a community and our society as a whole. I think there are many parts to that process, but I think it starts with the individual being able to do personal work with personal wealth for the betterment of the community from which they draw much. I think that 8 percent is a fair amount that is substantial enough to make an impact from the beginning but not so much as to damage my personal financial solvency. However, over time, I do wish to increase that amount. In the end, the rationale for giving can be either altruistic or self-serving. Either out of the goodness of one’s heart or out of the pragmatic benefits that giving has for a community, it is important that all individuals become involved in giving at all levels. But we have to do so intelligently, after thought, consideration, and introspection. That is how all involved grow and reap the true benefits of philanthropy.)

As TCU students, we hope to build upon the school’s mission and become ethical leaders in our community. Through the Nature of Giving course and the advice of guest speakers like the Jeff and Kelly Dillard, Ed Schollmaier, and John Robinson, we have learned of the importance of investing in our community through providing financial support, giving time and labor, and sharing our own expertise and passions. As the 2016 Nature of Giving class, we commit ourselves to giving our time and finances, while maintaining the mindsets of givers throughout our lives. Therefore, I pledge to donate 10% of my monthly personal income to a cause(s) of my choosing. I pledge to practice responsible philanthropy by conducting due diligence before giving to an organization. In addition to financial support, I commit myself to volunteering with organizations in order to foster personal relationships in the community. I will work to better the local and/or international community by establishing at least one partnership with a charitable organization. In order to remain actively engaged, I will review my donations and involvement annually. (I think this is an incredibly unique opportunity to participate in a group effort to give. While I originally wanted to write my own pledge, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that signing the class Giving Pledge shows collaboration and commitment to this group of people in particular. While I may at some time in my life write my own giving pledge, I want to sign on to this one to honor the gift that Nature of Giving has been to me; it has taught me how to give. Signing this pledge is a symbol of what this class means to me. I want to remember the feeling of coordinated giving and I believe that this pledge incorporates both individual and group mindsets.)

As a TCU Honors student who was provided by various donors the opportunity to take the Nature of Giving colloquium, I feel a sense of duty to give back what I have been so generously given in terms of both time and finances. Therefore … 1. I hope to build upon TCU’s mission to become an ethical leader and responsible citizen in the global community. 2. I will invest in my community through providing financial support, giving my time and talents, and creating meaningful relationships with organization leaders. 3. I will practice giving throughout my life by establishing and maintaining at least one partnership with a charitable organization. 4. I pledge to donate a minimum of 15% of my annual personal income to a cause(s) of my choosing. 5. I pledge to share my experiences from this class with friends and family as a way of paying it forward. In order to remain actively engaged, I will review my donations and involvement annually.

As a TCU Honors student who was provided by various donors the opportunity to take the Nature of Giving colloquium, I feel a sense of duty to give back what I have been so generously given in terms of both time and finances. Therefore … 1. I hope to build upon TCU’s mission to become an ethical leader and responsible citizen in the global community. 2. I will invest in my community through providing financial support, giving my time and talents, and creating meaningful relationships with organization leaders. 3. I will practice giving throughout my life by establishing and maintaining at least one partnership with a charitable organization. 4. I pledge to donate a minimum of 5% of my annual personal income to a cause(s) of my choosing. 5. I pledge to share my experiences from this class with friends and family as a way of paying it forward. In order to remain actively engaged, I will review my donations and involvement annually.