For Eryn Ament Bingle AB ’95, who grew up in a small town on Cape Cod, stepping onto the Harvard campus as an undergraduate was a revelation. The chance to explore new ideas and connect with people from across the country and around the world introduced her to opportunities she never imagined. As a government concentrator, she recalls paging through the hefty course catalogue, enthusiastically circling the courses she aspired to take in the years ahead.

Three decades later, in honor of her 30th Reunion, Eryn wanted to find creative ways to give back to the institution that propelled her career in law and public service. Inspired by her experience of discovery at the College, she and her husband, Mike, decided to focus their philanthropy on helping current and future students thrive at Harvard.

Financial aid has been a primary focus for the Bingles, who are longtime supporters of the Harvard College Fund. “It’s been wonderful to watch the financial aid initiative grow so spectacularly. We are enormously proud of Harvard,” Eryn says, noting the recent expansion of undergraduate financial aid—which made Harvard College free for students from families with annual incomes of $100,000 or less and tuition-free for students from families with annual incomes of $200,000 or less.

With their most recent gifts, the Bingles have also established and contributed to several funds to strengthen the student experience across many different areas that span the University. These include discretionary funds that allow University and School leaders to invest in initiatives that promote interdisciplinary research, athletics, civil discourse, and public service.

“I am very grateful for Eryn and Michael’s generosity to so many parts of Harvard,” says Alan M. Garber AB ’77, PhD ’82, president of Harvard University. “Their giving enhances many different aspects of undergraduate life, enabling students to flourish during their time here. I also applaud their contributions to civil discourse initiatives. Eryn and Michael recognize how important it is to foster open debate and respectful dialogue across campus.”

Embracing Multidisciplinary Viewpoints at Radcliffe

Eryn is drawn to Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s mission to bring students, scholars, artists, and public intellectuals together to pursue curiosity-driven research, expand human understanding, and grapple with questions that demand insight from across disciplines. As Harvard’s institute for advanced study, Radcliffe has long been a place where exchange across difference takes place and where the public engages with cutting-edge academic research. At Radcliffe, artists can help scientists see their work from new angles, yielding groundbreaking advances.

The Eryn Ament Bingle ’95 and Michael J. Bingle Dean’s Leadership Fund at Radcliffe supports the vision of Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin, enabling her and future leaders to advance the Institute’s most pressing needs and invest in strategic areas of growth.

“As engaged University citizens, Eryn and Michael recognize the importance of investing across Harvard, and we are fortunate to benefit from Eryn’s participation on the Dean’s Advisory Council. Their confidence in Radcliffe and its leadership is a powerful affirmation of the Institute’s work,” says Brown-Nagin, who is also Daniel P.S. Paul Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School and professor of history in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS).

“I am very grateful for Eryn and Michael’s generosity to so many parts of Harvard. Their giving enhances many different aspects of undergraduate life, enabling students to flourish during their time here.”

— Alan M. Garber AB ’77, PhD ’82, President of Harvard University

Holistic Support for Student-Athletes

Supporting the health of student-athletes and the broader University community is also paramount for the couple, who established the Bingle Family Athletic Director’s Discretionary Fund for Wellness and Well-Being to provide student-athletes at the varsity, club, and intramural levels with crucial assistance to prepare them for peak performance in the classroom and in competition.

The fund bolsters nutrition education, mental health support, equipment, and programming for students.

“Thanks to Eryn and Mike's generous gift, student-athletes at Harvard will have the tools and support they need to thrive both on and off the field,” says Erin McDermott, John D. Nichols ’53 Family Director of Athletics.

Eryn, who was on the varsity sailing team as an undergraduate, now serves on the board of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation, where she’s seen firsthand the pressure on the shoulders of elite athletes.

“We wanted to focus on the importance of protecting and nurturing not just how well student-athletes can perform, but make sure their minds are strong and that they’re thriving,” she says.

Expanding Perspectives

The Bingles see civil discourse initiatives as another opportunity to strengthen student life.

The FAS Civil Discourse Initiative—launched in December 2023—equips the FAS community with skills to engage productively across differences while fostering a campus culture where a broad range of perspectives is valued. Their support for this work through the FAS and the provost’s office provides opportunities for faculty and students to work together to hone the skills necessary to tackle challenging topics with respect and thoughtfulness across a range of programming and curricular innovation.

The wide reach of these programs greatly appealed to the Bingles. “Getting the chance to learn from Dean Hopi Hoekstra and Provost John Manning about these initiatives across Harvard showed us exciting ways to move forward in tackling difficult topics respectfully,” Eryn says.

“I am thrilled to have Eryn and Mike’s support across the Faculty of Arts and Sciences,” says Hopi Hoekstra, Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “Their generosity enhances the Harvard experience for students of today and tomorrow, making it possible for them to explore interests, challenge ideas, create unforgettable memories, and fully realize their potential over four transformative years.”

“I think a lot of people find their why when they come to college...Harvard was that place for me. We wanted to give back so that Harvard can continue nurturing students and opening their minds to possibilities.”

— Eryn Ament Bingle AB ’95

“I am grateful to Eryn and Mike for their generosity in support of civil discourse at Harvard,” says John F. Manning AB ’82, JD ’85, Harvard University Provost and Dane Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. “Academic excellence, which is at the core of Harvard’s mission, requires productive disagreement and the free exchange of ideas among outstanding people who bring differing perspectives to hard problems.”

Giving Back by Serving Others

Public service has remained a touchstone for Eryn in particular, who is passionate about volunteerism and strengthening nonprofit and government institutions. She was struck by the barriers many students face when exploring pathways in nonprofit work or government service, since those opportunities are often underpaid, and wanted to provide a way for students to pursue roles in these fields without worrying about finances.

The Bingles’ support enables Harvard College students to commit to public service experiences by providing funding for stipends, travel costs, training programs, and workshops.

“We’re really excited to see how much planning there is for the future of public service and service leadership at Harvard,” says Eryn, who discovered these passions as an undergraduate.

Reflecting on her enduring connection to Harvard, Eryn remembers how instrumental her Harvard years were in her own personal and academic growth.

“There’s a Mark Twain quote that says, ‘The two most important days in your life are the day you’re born and the day you find out why.’ I think a lot of people find their why when they come to college—whether it’s public service, caring for people in the field of medicine, entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, or a writer who wants to share something with the world,” Eryn says. “Harvard was that place for me. We wanted to give back so that Harvard can continue nurturing students and opening their minds to possibilities inside and outside the classroom.”