Why We Need Your Support

As published in the March-April 2009 issue of Harvard Magazine

Dear Readers,

For many years, alumni like you have supported publication of Harvard Magazine by making small donations. These contributions—along with advertising sales and a University subsidy—have enabled the magazine to keep you in touch with the community, prepare intellectually engaging articles, and provide objective coverage of Harvard today.

The rapid decline in advertising (historically the magazine’s largest source of revenue) and rising pressure on other funding sources during the past six months now force us to make many adjustments, even as our staff continues to work as hard as possible on your behalf.

The most significant change you will notice, beginning with the March-April issue, is a smaller publication: fewer pages translate into immediate, urgently needed savings on paper, printing, and postage—the principal costs in delivering your magazine. (Internally, we have cut costs across the board, including compensation.)

We will complement the printed Harvard Magazine by posting even more content on our website. Here you will find regularly updated news about the University and its people, multimedia materials accompanying articles, and carefully selected reports about alumni and developments affecting Harvard from around the world. The website maintains the same rigorous editorial standards and the same focus on serving you that have been at the core of the magazine’s mission for more than 100 years.

Now more than ever, publishing a Harvard Magazine of the highest quality—and keeping you informed about the University at a truly turbulent moment—depends on gifts of any size. In the past, we have asked for such support annually. Now we are making an extraordinary appeal for your contribution; it will be put to immediate good use. Please make a secure donation online or use the envelope you find in the magazine.

We welcome your yourturnharvard [dot] edu (comments) and thank you for your support during challenging times for all of us.

Catherine A. Chute Publisher

John S. Rosenberg Editor

 

Click to read the Harvard Magazine 2009 financial report.