GSD Alumni and Friends
SUPPORT THE GSD
Aron Chang MArch 1, left, and Sydney Mainster MArch 1, middle, designed the travel mug given to alumni and friends in 2008 in appreciation of their support to the GSD Annual Fund. Far right: Karin Min, Associate Director of the GSD Annual Fund.
The Annual Fund - Make a Gift
Although Harvard College has created an extremely generous financial aid program for undergraduates' families, this program does not apply to the graduate schools. Each graduate program is responsible for raising its own financial resources to assist its students.
This policy is particularly challenging for the GSD because our graduates frequently enter professions that are low-paying for a number of years. Consequently, many talented students are deterred from choosing the GSD because of the cost of tuition and the reality that they cannot afford to leave school with large debt. In order to address this challenge and continue to attract the most talented students, student financial aid is the central focus of our fundraising efforts.
In order to help our students, many of whom graduate with an average debt of roughly double the amount of their starting salaries, we have designated that every dollar raised through the Annual Fund be applied to student financial aid. We need your help.
The Office of the President matches one-to-one all gifts to the GSD Annual Fund, doubling the impact of your contribution. The Annual Fund alone, including the President's match, provided $833,775 in aid last year.
- Last School year the GSD provided nearly $6 million in financial aid, an increase of over 15% from the previous year ($5.2M).
- More than $2,646,000 or 44% of the $6M in financial aid resulted from annual and past gifts (income from endowed funds) from alumni and friends like you.
Your Annual Fund gift toward student financial aid is extremely important. No matter how modest the amount, your gift will help us provide the best education and a broader future for the brightest minds in design, regardless of financial need.
Please visit this page to see more on the Annual Fund and the impact the current economic climate is having on student financial aid.
"Design is a future oriented profession. In order to attract the best students, the GSD must increase financial resources.”
Kathan Tracy, Director of Development and Alumni Relations
We recognize that graduates and friends of the GSD have many different interests. In order to meet these different priorities, we offer an array of specific programs or activities - endow a faculty chair, fund studios, endow fellowships, support visiting professorships, travel scholarships, or other academic programs. We welcome an opportunity to discuss your specific goal or interest with us.
| You may make a contribution at post.harvard | CONTACT US | |
| If you wish to write a check please make it out to and send to: | Kathan Tracy, Director of Development and Alumni Relations | |
| Harvard University Graduate School of Design | Judy Wolfe, Associate Director of Leadership Gifts | |
| Office of Development and Alumni Relations | Karin Min, Associate Director, GSD Annual Fund | |
| 48 Quincy Street, S302 | Bonnie Campbell, Development Staff Assistant | |
| Cambridge MA 02138 |
Giving and Receiving
- Through a charitable remainder trust, you support the Graduate School of Design while creating lifetime income for yourself. Your trust can be invested with Harvard’s endowment, thereby participating in the returns of the University’s largest asset.
- A Charitable Gift Annuity pays you a secure, fixed income for life, backed by the full faith and credit of Harvard University.
- A Charitable Lead Trust enables you to fund annual gifts over a set term of years, after which the assets revert to your family.
- Bequests are a powerful way to benefit the GSD and save on estate taxes.
Harvard has an experienced staff of planned giving professionals who can help you develop gift plans that will benefit the Graduate School of Design in specific areas of your choosing, and meet your financial and tax objectives.
For more information contact John Christel, Associate Director, University Planned Giving or go to University Planned Giving.
SPOTLIGHT ON DONORS
Sakura Namioka, AICP, MAUD 1970
“As a GSD alumna and as a professional planner, I feel it’s
very important to support today’s designers in training.
When I graduated from the GSD, I was living on a modest
budget, but in a few years, I realized that if I began to give
back to the School on an annual basis, I could help students
to have the academic opportunities that I enjoyed. If
we are interested in building urban communities that are
responsive to the current and future needs of citizens, the
next generation of urban designers must carry on the profession.
Giving to the GSD is one of the best ways to show
our commitment to our profession, to build better urban
communities.”
In addition to student financial aid, Sakura also supports
the Loeb Library. “When I was at the GSD, I spent a
good deal of time in the library. I hope many GSD students
enjoy the same kind of stimulating experience there as I
had many years ago. Continuing to build on this remarkable
resource of materials is very important to further
enrich the students’ learning experience that is more personalized
than the classroom learning at the GSD.”
Prior to receiving her MAUD degree from the GSD, Sakura Namioka received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Tokyo University of the Arts and her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Tokyo. She is a planner with the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development in Arlington County in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
J.W. Kaempfer, MBA 1971
Speaking with “Joey” Kaempfer, chairman of London based
McArthurGlen, Europe’s largest developer, owner,
and manager of designer outlet shopping villages, one is
immediately struck by his passion for good design and
good business. He brings this commitment not only to his
latest shopping village just north of Florence, but to the
preservation of historic buildings; Joey has been honored
to serve as Deputy Chairman of HRH Prince Charles’
Regeneration Trust. As a graduate of the Harvard Business
School and a founding board member of the GSD’s Real
Estate Academic Initiative (REAI), he is also building
bridges at Harvard through his love of planning, design,
and public-private commercial collaboration.
“The REAI brings together industry professionals and faculty,
as well as masters and doctoral students to discuss the
locus of these diverse but critically connected areas,” says
Joey. “As developers, builders, architects, and planners, we
take on the societal responsibility to create wonderful
spaces that will live and endure. I think the best buildings
are those that are undertaken with a true marriage of
design talent and business acumen. It is our job as members
of the Harvard community to support GSD students
who will then become better professionals and create better
buildings. Giving to the GSD strikes me as a very
meaningful way to support higher education and the business
sector in which I work.”