HKS FACULTY AND ALUMNI have driven innovation in countless fields, including diplomacy, governance, public leadership, and more, and generations of alumni point to the role HKS has played in their ability to solve problems, bridge divides, and create lasting change.
Philanthropy fuels this work. Today, gifts from generous donors account for more than half of the School’s operating budget. Thanks to this support, HKS attracts and educates exceptional students from all corners of the world, empowers faculty to drive breakthrough research and new ways to solve problems, and connects ideas to action on a global scale.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence of philanthropy, and equally as difficult to single out just one policy area that has benefited from the generosity of HKS alumni and friends. Their impact is reflected by progress on countless issues, including national and global security, human rights, climate justice, and so much more.
Take state and local government. The Phyllis & Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation, the Taubman Family, and Bloomberg Philanthropies bolster the Kennedy School’s efforts to educate both promising and seasoned leaders to make a difference in their communities. Their support is indispensable to our faculty’s and students’ ability to create positive change.
Our gratitude to HKS’s donors is surpassed only by the impact they have fueled. Faculty, students, and the people they serve have been profoundly touched by contributions large and small, and for this we are deeply grateful.
A Snapshot: Philanthropy powers HKS’s work in state and local communities
From experiential learning to research that helps leaders make data-driven decisions, HKS faculty, students, and alumni are having an impact on a wide array of public problems in communities around the world—and this work is fueled by philanthropy. Some examples:
Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston
Experiential learning, convenings, and research from the Rappaport Institute are making a difference for communities in Greater Boston. From paid summer internships to full-tuition scholarships for elected and appointed officials, the institute equips rising and current leaders with tools to effectively solve public problems.
Examples of impact
Contributing to health care legislation, designing sustainable public transit finance solutions, and improving climate resilience
By the numbers
- 50 elected and appointed officials from Greater Boston have received full-tuition scholarships to study at HKS. State representatives and senators return to the legislature armed with new knowledge and leadership skills.
- 350+ students have participated in 10-week paid summer internships in 270 government agencies. Their work informs solutions to homelessness, the delivery of government services, and support for small businesses.
Government Performance Lab at the Taubman Center for State and Local Government
The GPL helps to create and implement solutions that allow governments to better serve their constituents. Faculty guide students and recent graduates in these efforts, which give the next generation of leaders crucial on-the-ground experience.
Examples of impact
Preventing homelessness, reducing recidivism, and strengthening alternative 911 emergency response
By the numbers
- 270+ intensive projects completed in 112 jurisdictions served across the United States
- $7 billion redirected to services and efforts focused on better supporting people and families
- 3,700+ public servants trained to grow solutions for their communities
Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University
The Bloomberg Center unites expertise across Harvard to advance research on urban problem-solving, deliver unparalleled training for city leaders, build a pipeline of talent to city halls, and provide free, research-backed resources to help leaders navigate leadership and management challenges confronting cities, where half the world’s population lives.
Examples of impact
Reducing gun violence, removing tons of waste from city waterways, increasing access to childcare, and designing rapid, transparent service delivery
By the numbers
- 110 academic research and curriculum projects supported through center labs
- 4,700+ mayors and other senior city leaders worldwide trained to lead more effectively
- 500+ students involved in research, fellowships, and field work
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Photographs by Martha Stewart, Raychel Casey, Aneesa Andrabi, Craig Warga / Bloomberg Philanthropies