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!

Fahad Alhuthaifi

Cornell University

Fall
2025

My goal is to give a consistent part of my income each year to causes that address basic needs like food security, medical access, and education. I also want to support efforts that improve patient comfort and adherence in the medical device space, especially projects that focus on unmet needs and make treatment easier for people who rely on these devices. As I move forward in my career, I want giving to become a steady habit, and I plan to increase the amount I give as my income grows. I hope to support organizations that use their resources effectively and have a real, measurable impact.

Evan Hull

American University

Fall
2025

I plan for my giving goal to be reflective of my current financial standing, as I want to give the most amount of impact while being cognizant of my resources. As I am still young and starting out my career, I will give as much as I can, even though it may unfortunately be modest. However, as I rise throughout my career and earn more, I will in turn give more to help people around me and around the world have a better life.

Ethan Chan

New York University

Fall
2025

My goal is to give by creating opportunities that empower others to build meaningful, purpose-driven lives. Whether through entrepreneurship, education, or social innovation, I want my resources to help people move from survival to self-actualisation. This doesn’t mean just improving their circumstances, but reshaping how they see their own potential.

Emma Baumgarten

American University

Fall
2025

My Goal for the first 5 years out of college is to give at a minimum $150 per year. Every 5 years I would like to re-evaluate and hopefully double my contributions. Ideally, I will increase the amount I am able to give sooner than 5 year benchmarks.

Emily Wu

Cornell University

Fall
2025

My giving goal is to make philanthropy a regular and sustainable part of my life. I am committing to giving a minimum of 2 to 3 percent of my annual income, with the aim of increasing that to 5 percent as my financial situation changes. In addition to financial giving, I also want to volunteer my time and skills, especially with local nonprofits and community organizations that can benefit from extra hands or professional support. My focus will be on groups that expand healthcare access, support education equity, and strengthen community well-being. I want my giving, both financial and personal, to grow alongside me and stay rooted in consistency, care, and showing up for the people around me.

Elizabeth Abrams

New York University

Fall
2025

One of my yearly giving goals is to give 18% to philanthropic organizations. I hope to discover and hone in on specific causes and organizations I admire, and as time continues, I hope to expand my yearly giving goal to eventually become 25%. In addition, I want to incorporate philanthropy into my career, be it law, government, the arts, or other.