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!

Anonymous

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2016

I pledge to give a specific percentage of my annual salary depending on how much I am earning. If I make making $50,000 a year, I will donate 5% and if I am earning $500,000 or more, I will donate 50% of my earnings. The percentage of my salary that I donate for salaries between these two will be a linear function of salary. So for the following given values, I will give the following percentage $50,000 5% $75,000 7.5% $100,000 12.5% $250,000 25% $500,000 50%

Anonymous

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2016

I pledge to donate 10% of my income to charitable organizations.

Anonymous

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2016

I pledge to donate 10% of my income each year to various nonprofit organizations. Furthermore, I pledge to be actively engaged in the organizations I choose to support, including volunteering, fundraising and site visits in order to fully comprehend the impact of my donation and the scope of the organization I support so that I can be an informed and dedicated supporter.

Anonymous

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2016

I pledge to continue supporting the nonprofit organizations that I have been supporting for the past years. I also pledge to continue involving my children in contributing with both time and money. I want my children to understand how privileged they are and how their efforts to help others truly do make a difference.

Anonymous

University of Pennsylvania

Spring
2016

I pledge to continue 50 hours of my time and skills/experience each year toward a nonprofit I believe in (either here in Philadelphia or in the state in which I will reside). After graduation, starting in 2017, I pledge to give as much as I am able each year with my beginning salary in addition to my volunteer work. Once I am financially established, I pledge to give 5% of my income to a charity of my choice.

Anonymous

Texas Christian University

Spring
2016

I, Kyle Keyzer, commit to depositing 5% of each paycheck I receive, upon employment, into a separate fund dedicated to philanthropic giving. This fund will go towards causes that I either have a personal connection to, or can be vouched for by personal friends and family. I will evaluate this fund biannually to determine appropriate times of giving and potential increases in savings percentage. I will not commit to any specific motivations driving me to giving, firstly because my current motivations are too fluid to affect me in 5-10 years time, even 2-3 years ago I had very different reasons for giving, and secondly because I believe that the change or the outcome of my giving is vastly more important than the reason why I am giving.