Graduate School Fund (GSF) volunteers raise flexible funds for the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) by sharing their personal stories with fellow alumni. Gifts of all sizes to the Fund directly support the recruitment and training of our outstanding graduate students, who will become the thought leaders of their generation and push the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding.
GSF volunteers play an essential role in raising immediate-impact funds that give leadership the ability to invest in priority areas and new opportunities. This community of supporters works in close collaboration with the Harvard College Fund, the Harvard Griffin GSAS Dean's office, and the Graduate School Alumni Council to engage donors and connect them to the school.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Graduate School Fund relies on a dedicated volunteer corps of alumni to solicit their peers for gifts. The GSF community raises flexible, immediate-impact funds for the School through contributions from over 30,000 alumni worldwide. Gifts of all sizes to the GSF directly support the recruitment and training of our outstanding graduate students, who will become the thought leaders of their generation and push the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding. The GSF is led by Co-Chairs Melinda B. Buntin PhD '00 and Awais Kharal AM ’98 and supported by an enthusiastic committee of more than 30 alumni volunteers.
GSF volunteers are committed to sustaining Harvard’s tradition of excellence, setting an example, building community, creating connections, celebrating loyalty, and working in partnership with the Graduate School Alumni Council and the Harvard Alumni Association. It takes a diverse and dedicated group of alumni to achieve meaningful results—some volunteers focus on cultivating and securing leadership-level gifts while others devote their energies to encouraging their peers to participate. All volunteers and donors have a significant impact on both funding and participation goals.
Most importantly, through their efforts, volunteers open Harvard’s doors to talented students and professors and provide resources to fund the transformative educational experience for which Harvard is known.
We invite alumni to reconnect with the University and volunteer with the Graduate School Fund today.
For more information and to get involved, please contact Stephanie Skedros, Senior Associate Director of Development, at 617-495-1629.
Committee Structure and Responsibilities
Co-Chairs
Three-year term, renewable
- Work together with GSF director to establish overall strategy and fundraising goals
- Lead gift committee meetings and calls
- Help enlist Leadership-level gift committee members
- Solicit 10 to 15 alumni and thank selected donors for Leadership gifts
- Serve as signatory for occasional direct marketing appeals
- Represent the GSF on the Harvard College Fund Executive Committee
- Participate in least two Executive Committee meetings per year and at least two HCF or GSF events
Vice Chairs
Three-year term, renewable
- Help lead gift committee meetings and calls
- Assist in the identification and recruitment of prospective committee members
- Support the GSF with a Leadership gift
- Serve as signatory for occasional direct marketing appeals
- Solicit a minimum of 10 gifts to the GSF
- Participate in or host regional GSF events and encourage alumni to attend
- Identify potential new volunteers
- Serve as a resource for other volunteers
Leadership Gifts Committee Member
Three-year term, renewable
- Partners with GSF staff to identify potential donors
- Solicits 10 to 15 alumni
- Supports the GSF with a Leadership gift
- Identifies potential new volunteers
- Serves as a resource for other volunteers
Associates Committee Member
One-year term, renewable
- Supports the GSF as generously as possible with an Associates-level gift
- Solicits a minimum of six gifts to the GSF
- Participates in regional GSF events, committee meetings, and conference calls held in the fall and spring
1636 Society Committee Member
One-year term, renewable
- Reaches out to peers, emphasizing loyalty and the importance of giving every year
- Shares Harvard Griffin GSAS updates with peers and encourages engagement
- Serves as signatory for occasional direct marketing appeals