University Finances
Senate Committee Targets $3 Million in Harvard NSF Research Grants for ‘Far-Left Ideology’
A Senate Commerce Committee report released last week labeled more than $3 million in federal grants to Harvard researchers as advancing DEI initiatives or “neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda."
Harvard Management Company Bets on Big Tech at End of 2024
The Harvard Management Company increased its exposure to Big Tech in its directly held stock portfolio during the final months of 2024, adding new positions in Apple, Amazon, Tesla, and Microsoft while reinforcing its already substantial investment in Meta.
Advocates Raise Concerns As Boston PILOT Report Remains Unreleased
While property taxes comprise nearly three quarters of Boston’s revenue, nonprofits are exempt from paying this tax. Instead, the PILOT program asks large non-profits to voluntarily pay a portion of what they would have otherwise paid in property taxes. The 2024 report on contributions has yet to be released.
Republicans Are Floating Plans To Raise the Endowment Tax. Here’s What You Need To Know.
Rep. Mike V. Lawler (R-N.Y.), an ally of President Donald Trump, became the latest Republican lawmaker to introduce an endowment tax on Friday, proposing an 8.6 percent tax hike for Harvard and other wealthy colleges and universities.
Federal Judge Says Trump Violated Order To Unfreeze Federal Funds
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration violated an order that halted a sweeping freeze on federal funding and ordered the White House to “take every step necessary” to release federally appropriated funds.
Garber Blasts Trump’s Limits on NIH Support for Indirect Costs
Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 slammed the Trump administration’s Friday decision to limit National Institutes of Health funding for overhead costs associated with research projects in a Sunday afternoon email.
Harvard’s Lobbying Spending Rose by 17% in 2024, the Most in More Than a Decade
Harvard spent $620,000 on lobbying the federal government in 2024 — the most it’s spent since 2010 — as the University attempts to dissuade lawmakers from imposing a larger endowment tax and other financial penalties on the heels of a 2023 leadership crisis.
With Republicans in Control, Alan Garber Faces a Fight For Harvard’s Funding
Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 has spent the last year investing in relationships with politicians in Washington, avoiding direct confrontation with the threats he has long acknowledged. Now faced with a barrage of funding cuts, Garber may have been pushed into the fight.
Harvard’s Federal Funding Is Under Fire. Here’s What’s at Risk.
President Donald Trump’s wave of executive orders targeting funding for education sent shockwaves through Harvard this week, jeopardizing thousands of research jobs and more than 10 percent of the University’s operating revenue.
White House Backs Down From Funding Freeze
President Donald Trump rescinded an order that sought to temporarily freeze the distribution of federal funds to local governments, universities, and nonprofits on Wednesday afternoon.
Garber Says Some Harvard Research May Halt After Trump Orders Freeze on Federal Grants
Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 wrote that some federally funded research initiatives at Harvard could be be forced to stop work to comply with Donald Trump’s federal funding freeze in an email to affiliates Tuesday afternoon, shortly before the freeze was blocked by a federal judge.
Harvard Endowment Reinvests $150M in Company Tied to Israeli Settlements in Palestine
The Harvard Management Company reinvested $150 million in Booking Holdings Inc., a company under fire for its operation in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to its 2024 third quarter filings.
Harvard Consolidates Its Portfolio of Direct Holdings Amid Shift Toward Private Equity
The Harvard Management Company pared down the direct holdings in its public equity portfolio to fewer public stocks than Harvard has held since 2017, continuing a pattern of consolidation under CEO N.P. “Narv” Narvekar.
Harvard Hires Penn Fundraising Chief James Husson to Lead Development, Alumni Relations
James J. Husson will lead Harvard’s fundraising efforts as the next Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development beginning April 1. Husson, who currently leads development at the University of Pennsylvania, will succeed Brian K. Lee.
Harvard Alumni Donate to Fund Construction of Economics Building, New Professorships
Several prominent Harvard alumni donated to the Economics department to fund two new professorships and the construction of the department’s new home, Pritzker Hall, the University announced Wednesday morning.
Harvard Updates Standards, Increases Funding for Sustainable Infrastructure
Harvard University announced its 2024 Sustainable Building Standards and the tripling of the University’s Green Revolving Fund from 12 million to 37 million this month.
Harvard FAS Reports $3 Million Surplus for Fiscal Year 2024, Lowest Since 2020
The Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences closed fiscal year 2024 with a $3 million surplus — its smallest surplus since 2020, the school announced last week in its annual financial report.
Harvard’s Endowment Shined in 2024. But It Masks a Longstanding Gap With Ivy+ Peers.
The value of Harvard’s endowment grew in value in fiscal year 2024 for the first time in three years. But financial experts and Harvard affiliates expressed concern about the endowment’s long-term performance, which has underperformed compared to other Ivy+ schools and the S&P 500.
Garber Will Not Review Harvard’s Investments for Ties to Human Rights Violations
University President Alan M. Garber ’76 said he will not direct the Harvard Management Company to review its investments for ties to human rights violations.