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 info@thephilanthropylab.org

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

Harvard University

Spring
2025

– I hope to give $300 towards an organization of my choosing within 2 years of graduation

Anonymous

Harvard University

Spring
2025

Once I am making a salary and financially stable, I hope to give 10% of my income, with some of the donation going to nonprofit organizations directly supporting communities in need and some of the donation going to my local church.

Anonymous

Harvard University

Spring
2025

Upon reflection on my post-giving goals, what sticks out to me most is being able to have a positive impact on at least one individual who has struggled with their mental health due to the time they spent in foster care. The particular issue we are addressing often goes unnoticed, and many affected individuals fly under the radar. You can see these effects even in the early research on nonprofits, and very few focus specifically on foster care and mental health. I hope to make affected individuals feel seen and heard, hopefully raising awareness of this issue.

Anonymous

Harvard University

Spring
2025

I would like to support charities both locally and abroad. Both those I have benefitted from, and those I have not. I would like to support those I have benefited from, wether my high school, college, other educational institutions, religious institutions, etc. As a member of the Jewish community, I would like to give back to both the local jewish community which am I part of, as well as to organizations abroad. Specifically, I intend to support organizations supporting the development, safety, and security of the State of Israel. I have had many opportunities to volunteer there in the past, and I would love to continue to support it throughout my life. It is a crucial part of who I am and my identity, and I will work to use my resources and time to ensure it remains strong, vibrant, and secure. I plan to give small amounts after I graduate, and continue to increase giving as I earn more money and have additional giving capacity.

Anonymous

Harvard University

Spring
2025

My giving goal is to donate 5% of my income annually and continue to give through volunteering abroad at orphanages and children’s homes .

Anonymous

Harvard University

Spring
2025

As I get older and advance in my career, one of my biggest goals is to give back meaningfully through philanthropy. I want my contributions to be focused on causes that align with my passions and the areas where I believe I can make the greatest impact. Given my deep interest in the intersection of chemistry, biology, and medicine, I see my giving as centered around advancing scientific research, particularly in areas like thrombosis, coagulation, and cancer. These are complex medical challenges, and I want to help fund groundbreaking research that pushes the boundaries of whatâs possible in treatment and prevention. By focusing on these issues, I can leverage my work capabilities and expertise for the greater good. I hope to either create a research group that helps develop cheap POC devices for those in need or make a nonprofit to help in this sector.