My giving goal is to develop more philanthropic habits to scale my annual impact, both monetarily and qualitatively. I’d love to get to place where I am donating a significant amount of money across numerous organizations every year. I’d also like to engage in philanthropic behavior that is impactful, such as mentoring youth or volunteering my time. I’m excited to continue my philanthropic journey.

My giving goal is to contribute annually to causes that I’m passionate about including in the education and health arenas. I hope to give as I’m able to make a difference in my community and beyond, taking with me all the lessons and knowledge I’ve acquired in my Philanthropic Leadership course.

In my “Letter to a Future Me,” I promised that as I move through my career, I won’t forget the people who never even get the chance to step onto the starting line. Growing up on a farm in South Jersey and then spending seven years in New York City made something very clear to me: talent exists everywhere, but opportunity is uneven. My pledge: I will commit at least 5% of my annual post-MBA income to nonprofits focused on breaking cycles of urban poverty, specifically organizations that provide job training, mentorship, and economic mobility for young people in cities like NYC. I plan to focus my giving on programs that help someone get their first real job, build financial stability, or access the education they were never set up to receive. I am also committed to volunteering each year with a NYC-based youth empowerment or workforce development program, with the goal of serving on the board of a community-focused nonprofit by age 35. Long term, my goal is to fund a small annual grant for a student from a low-income city neighborhood who wants to pursue a technical or business education, because that path changed my life, and I want to pass that forward.

In 5 years, I will donate 5% of my annual income to causes focused on education, entrepreneurship, and mental health access. In 10 years, I will contribute 10% of my income and support at least 20 african or diaspora founders through mentorship, scholarships, or catalytic grants. In 15 years, I will create or fund programs that empower women and youth in emerging markets through venture building, capacity development, and wealth building pathways. My goal is to build a legacy where giving is not occasional.

I plan on committing 2% of my annual income starting year 2 after the completion of my graduate degree programs. My donations will go to organizations that support education, mental health, first-generation college students, LGBTQ+ services and personal development. I plan to increase that amount to around 5% of annual income starting year 6 or 7. In addition, I plan on volunteering a minimum of 100 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) hours per year. I am dedicated to giving back to LGBTQ+ services, career development services, food banks and few other organizations that align with my vision. I hope to demonstrate that anyone can be a philanthropic leader with both my time and contributions.

Generosity is not measured by the size of the gift, but by the intention to leave others better than you found them. As my opportunities grow, I commit to directing a portion of my time, skills, and resources toward expanding access, stability, and dignity for women and families who need it most.