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

"What a sweet reminder of this pledge! I've definitely given and volunteered in the last 6yrs. It's been a joy to continue the journey of generosity since graduating from undergrad. I'm back in grad school and I am looking forward to finishing my MSW. There will be new ways I give back to the community!"

"Thank you so much for this valuable reminder of my Giving Pledge. I'm proud to say I've dedicated several hours of volunteer time & services to Arts Education non-profits and will continue to live out this pledge"

“Thanks for reaching out––I'm actively still volunteering at two non-profits now in NYC (one free food service called "Wellfare" and a neighborhood homeless shelter)”

"Thank you for your email! The Philanthropy Lab was a life changing experience for me. I ended up joining the board of Malawi Children's Village to run the women empowerment program, which is what the Philanthropy Lab grant was for. In August, I am going to Malawi to see the project in action!"

"I was so happy to see this email pop into my inbox, it feels like a lifetime ago I was in this course. I appreciate all that I learned in this class and have taken its messages with me through these past 5 years. I do plan on maintaining the promise I made in this class"

"Thanks for this reminder. I actually still have a handwritten version of that note on the magnet board in my home office."

Search for Giving Goals

Over 4,200+ course participants have written giving goals in a demonstration of leadership!

Zach Marbach

Texas A&M University

Spring
2016

I pledge to donate a total of 10% of my income to the Catholic Church and a few nonprofits I am passionate about. I plan to spend my entire professional career in the nonprofit sector. Even if my family and I struggle financially in the future, I will stay true to this pledge. I will make the sacrifices necessary to continue to give 10% of my income despite my personal circumstances.

Marlee Tarwater

Texas A&M University

Spring
2016

I pledge to consistently give my time to organizations for the rest of my life. I pledge to create a plan to give 5% of my excess income to organizations.

Kate Rohrbough

Texas A&M University

Spring
2016

I love goals and lists and resolutions; with this in mind, I plan to re-evaluate my giving strategy every year in the month of December. Tentatively, I would love to increase the monetary amount I give each year by .5%; currently giving 10%, this would enable me to give 36% away each year by age 60. However, I also fully acknowledge that I do not know what the future will hold: will I have kids, be married? Will I serve as a missionary in some foreign country? I don’t know; I can’t know. And so, I make this plan now: to always give at least 10%, hopefully continually increasing the amount I give until it becomes unwise to do so.

Chandler Clark

Texas A&M University

Spring
2016

I pledge to donate 10% of my income to the local church and set aside a portion of my income every year to donate to organizations and individuals as needs arise.

Bailey Smith

Texas A&M University

Spring
2016

I pledge to give at least 10% of my income to charitable organizations after I have graduated and have a full-time job. I will intentionally seek out large and small ways to give my time, treasure, and talents.

Anonymous

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2016

I pledge to volunteer/invest my time to different organizations or charities of my choosing after I graduate for at least 30 hours on an annual basis and additionally pledge to donate a portion of my annual earnings.