You know what Aspire gave you.
Now pass it on.
The Aspire Leaders Program is the world’s largest community for first-generation, limited-income students. It was free to you, and it will be free to future leaders. But only if we take action. $10 funds the full cost for one of your peers to follow in your footsteps, but any amount helps. Help other students access the same opportunities you had – to build confidence, make connections, learn, and grow.
YOU’RE PART OF A GLOBAL ALUMNI COMMUNITY
WHY GIVE BACK
Every culture has a name for this.
Ubuntu says: I am because we are. In South Asian tradition, Seva means selfless service — giving without expectation of return. Filipino communities call it Bayanihan: neighbours lifting a house together. Across every culture in the Aspire community, the same truth holds: what one person receives, the next person carries forward.
We are building a movement of emerging leaders like you — people from around the world whose talent was bigger than their opportunity. Part of building that movement is opening the door for more overlooked leaders to join. You already know this feeling — that’s how you got here. Here’s why your participation matters.
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You received something real
Whatever the Aspire Leaders Program gave you — skills, confidence, community, a turning point — thousands of first-generation learners are applying right now for that same chance. Your gift keeps that door open for the next one.
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You stay part of something
Giving back keeps you connected to the Aspire community and helps grow that community. A rising tide lifts all ships, and your gift helps raise the ocean.
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Your story carries weight
You’ve lived the program. That gives you something no campaign can manufacture — credibility. Whether you give monthly or fundraise in your own name, you’re doing what Aspire alumni do best: opening doors where there weren’t any before.
TWO WAYS TO GIVE BACK
Choose how you pay it forward.
Whether you can give money or your story, you can help open the door to future leaders. $5, $10, or your time…everything helps!
GIVE
Give $10 — Fund one student.
$10 covers the complete cost of the Aspire Leaders Program journey for one of your peers. But $5 gets us half way there, too! Every $10 we raise opens the door for someone like you, so every bit helps.
FUNDRAISE
Start a fundraiser.
Your story is your most powerful fundraising tool. Share why Aspire mattered to you and your network may give more than you ever could alone. Every $10 they give sponsors one more learner. Top fundraisers will receive a personal letter of recognition from our CEO!
YOUR IMPACT
Small and consistent. That’s what builds.
Start with $10. Then see what monthly giving does. Can’t do $10? $5 makes a big difference too.
$10
ONE-TIME
Sponsors 1 peer through the full Aspire Leaders Program — the complete cost of one person’s journey from start to finish.
$5
PER MONTH
Sponsors 6 peers to follow in your footsteps — the same program you completed, for six more first-generation learners every year.
$5
ONE-TIME
Every bit helps. We want to build a culture of giving, so don’t worry about how much. We appreciate every bit.
Help us build a community of 500 donors.
Our goal is 500 Aspire alumni paying it forward — a community whose giving empowers future leaders. Every new gift funds someone to follow in your footsteps.
CAN’T GIVE RIGHT NOW?
Your story is your fundraising superpower.
You lived the program. That makes you the most credible person on earth to ask for support on Aspire’s behalf. A fundraiser from you reaches people we never could on our own — and your personal story is more powerful than anything we could write.
- Start a fundraiser in your name — takes two minutes.
- Share your story: your connection to Aspire and why the next generation of learners deserves the same chance you had.
- Share your link. Every $10 from someone in your network funds a full year for one learner.
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Fundraise for Aspire
Create a personal fundraising page and bring your network into the Aspire community. FundraiseUp handles the page, tracking, and donation processing.
Giving from anywhere
✓ 135+ currencies accepted — give in your local currency
✓ All major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal
✓ Secure checkout via FundraiseUp
✓ US donors: fully tax-deductible (501c3). International donors: we issue a receipt for your records — deductibility depends on your country’s tax laws.
✓ Co-founded by Harvard Business School faculty: Tarun Khanna and Karim Lakhani
✓ Processing by Stripe or PayPal — Aspire Institute does not store your payment credentials
Common Questions
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Can I give in my local currency?
Yes. FundraiseUp accepts 135+ currencies. Your card will be charged in your local currency and converted automatically — no extra steps needed.
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Is my donation tax-deductible?
For US donors, yes — Aspire is a registered 501(c)(3). For donors outside the US, we’ll issue a receipt for your records, but deductibility depends on your country’s tax laws. We recommend checking with a local tax advisor.
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Can I change or cancel my monthly gift?
Yes. Update your amount or cancel anytime from your donor portal — no need to contact us. You’ll receive portal credentials after your first gift.
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What if I can’t give right now?
Start a fundraiser instead. Your personal story and network can generate more impact than a direct gift — and it costs you nothing. Use the “Start a Fundraiser” button above.
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What payment methods are accepted?
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, and Diners Club), Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, ACH bank transfer (US), SEPA Direct Debit (EU), Canadian PAD direct debit, iDEAL and Wero (Netherlands), and EPS (Austria). Donations are accepted in 136 currencies — your local currency is displayed automatically based on your location. Currency conversion is handled at the time of transaction by Stripe or PayPal depending on your chosen payment method.
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How does peer-to-peer fundraising work?
Click “Start a Fundraiser” to create a personal page hosted by FundraiseUp. You write your story, set a goal, and share your link. All donations go directly to Aspire — you never handle funds. It takes about two minutes to set up.
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Is my donation secure?
Yes. Aspire’s donation platform is operated by Fundraise Up, which is certified to PCI DSS Level 1 — the highest level of payment security certification. Your card details are never entered on Aspire’s servers. Payment information goes directly to Stripe or PayPal through Fundraise Up’s encrypted checkout, both of which are PCI DSS Level 1 certified. Aspire only receives confirmation that your payment was completed successfully, along with your name and contact information for receipting purposes. No card numbers, CVV codes, or bank account credentials are stored by or accessible to Aspire.
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Can I donate in my local currency?
Yes. Our checkout automatically detects your location and displays donation amounts in your local currency. You will see the equivalent amount in your currency before confirming your gift. Currency conversion is processed by Stripe or PayPal at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of your transaction. No separate foreign exchange fee is charged to you by Aspire — any conversion costs are embedded in the exchange rate applied by the payment processor.
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I have questions about my donation. Who can I contact?
Email donations@aspireleaders.org and a member of the Aspire team will follow up.
View Aspire Institute’s public copy of our 2025 990 form here.
