Mason Program 50th Anniversary Campaign

Supporting Emerging Leaders at the Harvard Kennedy School

Developing countries across the globe face a staggering number of challenges today—violent conflicts, the suffering of millions from disease and starvation, environmental crises, and severely deficient national infrastructures. Overcoming these challenges will require a new wave of exceptional leaders, women and men with the capacity to effect positive change and the commitment to serve in the best interests of their peoples and nations.

Where will these leaders come from? At the Harvard Kennedy School, emerging leaders from developing countries are preparing to meet these challenges through the Edward S. Mason Program. Talented mid-career professionals who have already demonstrated a capacity for leadership, Mason students come to the Kennedy School for an intensive one-year master’s in public administration program, during which they experience the very best the Kennedy School has to offer— brilliant faculty, a dynamic environment frequently visited by luminaries from around the world, and extraordinarily talented peers. Indeed, since the program was founded in 1958, Mason graduates have remained bonded throughout their lives, exchanging ideas inspiration. Today, graduates of the Mason Program include four sitting heads of government and Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

On the auspicious occasion of the Mason Program’s 50th anniversary, the Kennedy School has launched a $50 million fundraising campaign. Support for the Mason Program will have a tremendous domino effect—making it possible for the most talented leaders from poorer nations to receive a Kennedy School education and then enhancing leadership capacity in some of the most underserved corners of the globe. Gifts of all levels will help support these emerging leaders as they prepare to bring progress to their nations and make this world a better a place. Following are a few ways to partner with the Kennedy School in supporting emerging global leaders:

Funding Opportunities

• $50 million
  A gift of $50 million will provide transformative support to the Mason Program. By endowing the entire program, this
  gift will ensure that the most talented emerging leaders will be able to attend the Harvard Kennedy School, regardless of their financial circumstances, and create a pipeline of smart and committed individuals dedicated to improving the lives of people in some of the poorest countries in the world.
• $25 million
  A gift of $25 million will provide a Kennedy School education for 25 graduate students from the poorest countries in the world, creating an annual cadre of leaders whose fellowships bear the name of the donor or a name chosen by the donor.
• $1 million
  With a gift of $1 million, a donor will establish in perpetuity a named graduate fellowship, which will be designated to
  one or more emerging leaders each year.
• $250,000
  A gift of $250,000 will create a named financial aid endowment fund, which will provide critical need-based assistance to one or more Mason Program students each year.
• $100,000
  With a current-use gift of $100,000, a donor may create a single-year named fellowship to cover all tuition, fees and living expenses for one Mason Program student.