Over the next five to ten years, I would love commit at 2% of my annual income and 10 hours of volunteer service each year.
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!
Yundi Yue
- Fall
- 2025
I aspire to allocate approximately 5-10% of my financial resources annually once I achieve financial independence, directing them toward initiatives I deem meaningful. This may involve donating to organizations that I believe drive positive change in specific areas, or personally engaging in efforts that contribute to making the world a better place.
Wanchun Cui
- Fall
- 2025
Over the next ten years (2026–2035), my goal is to contribute 200 hours of volunteer service and to donate $1,000 to charitable organizations whose missions align with my values.
Vivian Chan
- Fall
- 2025
I plan to use my resources, mostly monetary, for the development and sustainability of nonprofits that aid humanitarian crises, and/or more local issues. I know that I currently have a passion for editing, therefore editing content that would aid in awareness efforts for a cause, or for an organization that supports the cause would allow me to use my ability for good in the future. I am currently most passionate about putting an end to gender based violence, domestically and internationally. There are many current ways of tackling an issue such as this one, but in terms of my future income, I would like to aim for 10%. If I made a substantial amount of money, the percentage would definitely increase, and similarly, if I am not making as much as I would have hoped annually, the percentage may have to decrease temporarily as well.
Thomas Lenz
- Fall
- 2025
In my first 5 years after school (MBA) I want to give 5% of my income away, split between humanitarian organizations and educational institutions where I studied. In the next 15 years, I want to increase that percentage to 10%. After 20 years, I want to increase that percentage to 25%.
Tessalouise Williams
- Fall
- 2025
My goal is to regularly donate money whenever I can. As my career grows and hopefully my income, I plan to give more and more money to organizations that are meaningful to me. I am interested in organizations that directly assist people’s needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.