Because generosity only multiplies when it’s shared. We’ve learned a lot about what works in giving – and what doesn’t – and we want others to benefit from our experience. By equipping you to give wisely, your impact increases — and so does ours.

Giving University is a private foundation, not a nonprofit. We don’t solicit money, fundraise, or build endowments. Every class, every trip, every grant dollar is covered by us. Which eliminates the hurdle of cost for you to participate, and allows you to focus on learning and practicing generosity.

No. Giving University is faith-informed, not faith-based. Our team happens to be Christian, so we sometimes use Biblical stories to illustrate generosity. But we’ll also quote Plato, psychologists, and economists. And we don’t evangelize, preach, or ask you to believe what we believe.

You’re 100% welcome to join. GivingU students include Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics, and people who don’t even know what they believe. The only requirement is a desire to learn how to give in a way that creates real impact.

There is no catch. No hidden fees. No bait-and-switch. No fundraising pitch. The only thing we ask is that you show up ready to learn and willing to stretch your perspective on generosity.

Trips span the globe — Mexican orphanages, refugee camps in Kurdistan, villages in Kenya, nonprofit projects in Cambodia, Uganda, Lebanon, and beyond. We’ve also run work trips in the U.S. in the past, including New Orleans, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

Everyone from middle school students to retirees, dentists to electricians, parents with kids, people of faith and people with none. What unites them all is the drive to give in ways that matter.

Yes. We created a version just for kids ages 6 to 12. It runs for 5 weeks and covers the same core ideas as the adult Giving University class — but in a fun, age-appropriate way. The lessons include games, kid-focused videos, and open discussions that make generosity something they can see, feel, understand, and practice right away.

Eight weeks, two hours per week — 16 hours total. It’s not a lecture, but an honest conversation about generosity, nonprofits, and impact.

You’ll learn how to: Define generosity and discover your passion. Vet nonprofits and read IRS 990 forms. Spot the difference between real impact and a really nice brochure. Direct grant dollars to vetted organizations. Put generosity into practice through a real giving assignment.

Yes. Every student receives $1,000 they can direct toward a nonprofit they research and is approved by GivingU. It’s not pretend money — real organizations get real funding … from you.

Giving University pays for almost everything. Flights, lodging, food, logistics are all covered. However we don’t cover the cost of passport applications or renewals, or any recommended vaccinations. We want every student, regardless of income, to experience generosity on the ground.

We dig deep. Reviewing finances, asking hard questions, and visiting nonprofits and organizations firsthand. GivingU students help with this vetting process — which is why your classwork translates into actual grants.

Plenty of people sign up for that reason. But almost no one leaves thinking that way. Once you see poverty, resilience, and real impact firsthand, the trips stop being about a stamp in your passport and start being about changing lives — including your own.

You’re not alone. Many discover their donations went to organizations that weren’t effective. GivingU isn’t about shaming you — it’s about giving you tools to redirect your generosity where it will make an impact in people’s lives.

Mission trips often serve one group or project. GivingU trips are structured as research and service. You’ll visit multiple nonprofits, evaluate impact, and help direct real grant dollars — usually $50,000 per trip.

That’s normal. Many students arrive nervous about safety, culture shock, or hardship. But those very challenges often become the most transformative experiences — showing you resilience, generosity, and hope in new ways. And you’re always with experienced Giving University staff who’ve been on trips before.

Absolutely, yes. Parents bring kids as young as 6-years-old to help build houses in Mexico. Teens who are skeptical often become eager returnees. Generosity is “caught more than taught,” and families experience it together.

They say their worldview flipped. They learned generosity isn’t just about money but about perspective, responsibility, and humility. They describe GivingU as life-changing, safe, and unexpectedly inclusive.

Simple — click “Apply” here on the website. There’s no fee, no obligation. Just a willingness to learn and an openness to grow into the most generous version of yourself.