Knafel Wants Others To Imitate Him

When you've got nothing you've got nothing to lose. So sang Bob Dylan about destitution.

Sidney R. Knafel '52 has amended Dylan's words for those coping with bulging bank accounts: When you've got it all, unload it.

"I devote a measureable part of my time to philanthropy...I devote a significant part of that time to Harvard," Knafel says.

It is his alma mater twice over, as he graduated from the College and the Business School. For the extremely successful investor, endowing Harvard means more than writing the occassional check.

"You try to inspire other people to give," Knafel says. "I had the opportunity to raise the standard of the standard bearer."

So he gave. And gave. And gave again.

All told, Knafel poured more than $26 million into the campaign, including $20 million for the center bearing his name that will study government and international issues.

Long before the world heard about Harvard's ambitious dream to raise $2.1 billion, Sid Knafel was helping pump up Harvard's "nucleus fund," the money the University needed to raise before it could go public with the campaign.

"I thought it was important that there be a loud sound at the starting gate," Knafel says, and so he gave Harvard $5 million.

But then he wanted to send another message to Harvard alumni: they could give to the campaign twice. So he gave another million.

And he gave two more times, until his total gift was pushing $30 million.

Knafel, 67, has been the managing partner of SRK Management Company since 1981 and sold another of his business ventures, Vision Cable Communications to the Newhouse Media conglomerate.

With money to spare, Knafel has decided it's time to give back, and to encourage others to do the same through his example.

"Some people don't have that gene," he says. "But most do."