Lotus Collective

Give while you live.

One life. Given well.

A simple, personal promise — to give a meaningful part of what you have, to whatever cause moves you, within your lifetime. Not someday. Not only in a will. While you're here to see the good it does.

Take the Pledge Why I started this ↓

After 25 years, I chose to give while I live

I spent a quarter-century building a career, always meaning to give — really give — once I was more settled. One day it struck me that the “right time” might never arrive on its own.

So I made a promise: to give the majority of what I have to the good of others, beginning now, not at the end. I'm stepping away from my career to build this full-time, in the open, alongside a small circle who feel the same pull.

An old thread runs through every wisdom tradition — what we keep, we lose; what we give, we keep forever. This pledge is my first step, made out loud. I'd love for you to take yours.

— Deepak Kumar

Founder · Lotus Collective

A figure walking toward the morning light

What it is

  • A personal promise — to yourself, in your own words.
  • Directed to any organization or cause you choose.
  • A commitment to give while living — at a pace that fits your life.
  • Yours to define: the amount, the cause, the timing.

What it isn't

  • Not a fee to us — we take none of your gift. Give wherever your heart leads.
  • Not a legal contract or a bill. It's kept on your honor.
  • Not a number anyone will police. Your conscience, your terms.
  • Not only for the wealthy. There is no “too small.”

There is no “too small.”
Only the decision to begin.

1%

The First Step

A gentle beginning. Generosity as a new habit.

10%

The Tithe

An ancient, time-tested measure of meaningful giving.

A share

The Lifetime Gift

A portion of your wealth, given across your life.

The most

The Majority

Giving most of what you have to the good of others.

Write your promise

Take a few quiet minutes. This is a commitment to yourself — there are no wrong answers.

1Reflect
2Define
3Commit

Begin with why

Generosity that lasts begins with meaning, not a number.

Define your commitment

Choose what feels meaningful — and a little brave.

1% — a first step
10% — the tithe
A share of my wealth
The majority
Education & Learning
Health & Wellbeing
Spiritual & Contemplative Life
Environment & Climate
Community & Poverty Relief
Arts & Culture
Children & Youth
My Faith Community
Wherever the need is greatest

Make it yours

Here is your pledge, in your own words. Edit anything — then commit.

Your pledge
I pledge to give…
This pledge is a personal, moral commitment — not a legal contract. Lotus Collective does not hold it as a binding obligation, and you may update or withdraw it anytime. Taking this pledge is not a donation to Lotus Collective and creates no tax deduction. Whether future gifts to your chosen organizations are tax-deductible depends on those organizations and your situation — please consult a tax advisor. Lotus Collective does not provide tax advice.

The Living Pledge

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Thank you. Your promise is made. 🪷

Keep your certificate close. We'll send a gentle reflection each year on your pledge anniversary — never an ask, just an invitation to remember.

Email my pledge to me

To record your pledge on the wall, connect this form to your sign-up tool — placeholder ready for the team.

The Pledge Wall · Class of 2026

1

person has made this commitment so far. Yours could be next.

Founding pledge

“To give the majority of my wealth, while I live — to education, wellbeing, and the wisdom that helps people live fuller lives.”

Deepak K. · Education & Wellbeing

example — replace with real pledges

“10% of everything I earn, for as long as I earn it. I want generosity to be a habit, not an afterthought.”

A future pledger · Community

example — replace with real pledges

“A share of my lifetime savings to children's education — the gift that keeps giving.”

A future pledger · Children & Youth

The wall is opt-in. Pledge amounts are never shown — generosity here is measured in heart, not dollars.

Give where the light rarely reaches

Your pledge is always yours to direct. Each month we quietly highlight one place where the need runs high and the giving runs low — a village, a school, a small effort far from anyone's attention. Every pledge is a stone in still water: one promise sets the next in motion.

Still water at dawn
01

We listen

Each month we surface one overlooked need — chosen for impact, not visibility — where a little goes a long way.

02

We give together

Many small acts, pointed the same direction, become something larger than any of us alone. No amounts shown — only momentum.

03

We widen the circle

Pass the spotlight to one person who'd care. That's how a quiet promise becomes a movement — one ripple touching the next.

Spotlights point to causes out in the world — never to us. Giving is always optional, always your choice.

Friends together by the river

This is just the beginning

The Living Pledge is young, and built in the open. As I step away from my career to give this my full time, I'm gathering a small circle of like-minded people to build it with — to shape the spotlights, welcome new pledgers, and carry it further than I ever could alone.

Pledger

You begin

You've made the pledge. The circle starts with you.

Witness

You widen it

You bring others to the pledge and share each month's spotlight.

Builder

You shape it

You give time and skill — choosing spotlights, hosting a circle, spreading the word.

Steward

You lead it

A founding few who help guide the movement as it grows. Invited as we build the team.

These aren't ranks of how much you give — we'll never measure that. They're simply how deeply you choose to take part.

Help build this →

The honest details

Is this pledge legally binding?
No. It's a promise on your honor — a commitment to yourself and your values, not a contract. You can update or withdraw it at any time.
Does my pledge go to Lotus Collective?
No. Your pledge is yours to direct — give to whatever cause(s) you choose, and we take none of it. If you ever feel moved to support Lotus Collective's own work, you're welcome to — but we'll never ask, and it's never expected.
Can I pledge to my temple, church, school, or any nonprofit?
Yes — any cause or organization you trust. The choice is entirely yours, and you can change it as life changes.
How much should I pledge?
Whatever feels meaningful and a little brave — sustainable for your life, yet a real stretch of the heart. Many begin at 10% of income; others pledge a share of lifetime wealth. There is no minimum.
Will my pledge be public?
Only if you choose. You can appear on the wall with your name and statement, with your first name only, or stay completely private. We never display amounts or email addresses.
Is my pledge tax-deductible?
The pledge itself is not a donation, so it isn't deductible. When you later give to a qualified nonprofit of your choice, that gift may be deductible depending on the organization and your situation — please consult a tax advisor. Lotus Collective does not provide tax advice.