How do you choose how much to give?

I was sitting with a close friend over coffee recently and she leaned in and said, “Can I ask you something in confidence?”

“Sure.” I expected her to get extremely personal.

“Well, I’ve been wondering this for a while, and I’m not sure whom to ask. How much I should donate?”

I know this can be an awkward topic of conversation, but I’m still surprised by how hesitant people are to discuss their giving. There’s no right answer, although we at Agora come across people giving 10% of their income, 50% of their income, or everything above minimum wage, such as Ben West, who donates everything above minimum wage:

If you want to set a personal goal for your giving, consider pledging a percentage of your income. The national average for donating as a portion of your income in America ranges from 2.5% to 5%:

When I first thought of the idea of pledging a portion of my income, it seemed exciting, but scary. Committing to a fixed amount over the course of the whole year? But then I realized that starting with a small amount, such as a 1% pledge, was completely manageable. And a small amount, when donated effectively, can have a tremendous impact. My husband and I are still discussing our own lifetime giving plans, but we want to make a commitment to give big.

How do you think about your own giving? Share your thoughts on what drives your own giving decisions and whether you’ve thought about pledging a certain percent of your income.