INFORMATION FOR DONORS

The British Friends of Harvard Business School was established by the Harvard Business School Club of London in 1990 in order to raise funds for financially needy British students to attend Harvard Business School. The British Friends is a British registered charity the principal purpose of which is to provide scholarships for British students to attend Harvard Business School.

Since 1992, the British Friends have awarded 35 scholarships with a total value of over £411,000. Each scholarship was awarded to a needy British student. The British Friends continues to believe that providing these scholarships of “last resort” has enabled British students in need of financial aid to fulfill their dream of attending Harvard Business School.

The scholarship endowment now stands at £800,000 with additional pledges to be paid in future years. Our goal is to raise sufficient money, so that the income from the endowment will fund $100,000 of Fulbright scholarships for first year students at HBS with at least one at $40,000.

All donations are deductible against UK tax whether or not the donor is a British national providing that person pays UK taxes under the Gift Aid Scheme. The only requirement is that the donor pays sufficient UK tax, either income tax or capital gains tax, to cover the tax on that donation and that the donor gives us an appropriate certificate or oral declaration if using the Gift Aid Scheme. A £1,000 donation can cost the donor only £744 but benefits the scholarship fund by £1,282. Dual US and UK tax payers can now give to the British Friends through the CAF American Donor Fund and receive a tax deduction in both countries. See the Donate page for more information.

Donations to Harvard Business School

The English Charity Commissioners have agreed that British nationals paying UK tax can make gifts for the benefit of Harvard Business School through the British Friends for appropriate educational purposes and claim UK tax relief on their donations.UK taxpayers making donations direct to the School will considerably enhance their donations by making them through the Friends.

All donations to the British Friends will be counted towards section and class reunion fundraising.

We charge a modest administration fee of £100 or 2.5% of the donation, whichever is the greater, to cover the costs of this service. We waive the fee to first time donors who have left HBS in the previous five years up to and including their 5th year reunion.

If you are currently giving direct to the School you are missing out on the opportunity to increase substantially the value of your gift.