The drive is the most lucrative fundraiser of any law school to date, according to Harvard, and leaders celebrated its success at a gala on Thursday. “I am deeply grateful to the more than 23,000 alumni and friends who joined in this effort,” Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan said in a prepared statement. “They know how special a place Harvard Law School is and how transformational it can be, and they have enabled us to do more for our students, our profession, and our world than ever before.”
Kagan also said the fundraising campaign has allowed the school to augment financial assistance for students, expand the faculty and facilities, modernize and internationalize its curriculum and encourage public service. The campaign was launched in 2003 with a goal of $400 million in donations, which it ultimately surpassed by $76.5 million. The fundraising got off to a very promising start, as former dean Robert Clark had already secured $170.1 million in commitments before it officially began.
