SUPPORT EMERGING LEADERS
With $10, you can change a student’s life.
The Aspire Leaders Program is the world’s largest community for first-generation, limited-income learners. It costs them nothing to join and access curriculum from Harvard faculty, a global community of peers and mentors, and exclusive partnerships and resources to help them pursue academic advancement, career growth, and entrepreneurship.
Keeping the Aspire Leaders Program free and growing depends on people who believe first-generation, limited-income learners deserve better. Our cost per learner is just $10 — which means every dollar you give has a direct, measurable impact. With $10, you can change the trajectory of a life, a family, and a community.
↓ See additional options for gift-giving and what they provide for learners
INDIVIDUAL GROWTH
How the Aspire Leaders Program changes students
Self-reported surveys from over 28,000 Aspire Leaders Program learners during their first and final week of the program showed marked improvement in their soft skills, goal-setting abilities, and overall leadership capacity.
83%
Report meaningful improvement in self-awareness and reflective practice
82%
Report stronger communication skills — written, verbal, and interpersonal
81%
Report improved ability to set goals and think strategically about their future
79%
Report greater self-confidence to take on leadership roles in their community
Source: Aspire pre-post outcome survey, 2024–2026. Figures represent the share of learners who reported improvement. An independent randomized control trial to establish causal evidence is underway, guided by Harvard faculty.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT
How our students change the world: 367 impact projects and 309,000 lives improved.
Every Aspire Leaders Program alum graduates with a community project proposal. Many go further — launching initiatives, registering organizations, and reaching communities at scale. So far, we have disbursed over $380,000 in grants to 367 projects in 7 countries, resulting in 67 formally registered organizations and benefitting over 309,000 lives. That is exponential impact.
Your gift funds the next one.
Beryl Mungai
Aspire Leaders Program Alum · Kenya · Seed Fund & Community Action Award Winner
After completing the Aspire Leaders Program, Beryl founded New Beginnings Kwa Ground — a mental health and substance abuse prevention organization for Kenyan youth. Her peer-led curriculum reaches students, parents, and teachers through interactive workshops, backed by a research partnership with Aga Khan University.
Angel Solis
Aspire Leaders Program Alum · Chiapas, Mexico · Forbes 30 Under 30 · 2025 Community Action Award
After completing the Aspire Leaders Program, Angel founded Kukulmat — a Maya-numeracy education initiative that has reached 55 children and 170 youth through hands-on STEM labs, cultural workshops, and ambassador-led activities in Chiapas.
367
PROJECTS FUNDED
Alumni-founded nonprofits and social enterprises
67
ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED
Alumni-founded nonprofits and social enterprises
309,000+
LIVES IMPROVED
Beneficiaries reported by alumni projects
Help us build a community of 500 donors.
Our goal is a community of 500 people paying it forward — a community whose giving empowers future leaders. Every new gift helps to empower the next generation of emerging leaders.
YOUR MONTHLY IMPACT
Small and consistent. That’s what builds.
A one-time donation of $10 sponsors one student. A monthly donation of $5 sponsors 6. See what monthly giving unlocks.
$5
PER MONTH
Funds 6 students through their full journey. Monthly giving multiplies the impact 6× what a one-time $10 does.
$10
PER MONTH
Funds 12 students through their full journey — 12 families and 12 communities impacted.
$20
PER MONTH
Funds 24 students through their full journey — a classroom full of emerging leaders.
$100
PER MONTH
Funds 120 students — a lecture hall full of future founders, activists, researchers, and innovators.
WHO SUPPORTS ASPIRE
A community of people who have seen it work.
Aspire’s donors are alumni, partners, and supporters who believe the gap in opportunity is structural — and fixable. They come from the same places the learners do.
🎓
Aspire Alumni
You completed the Aspire Leaders Program. You know what it unlocked. $5 or $10 a month brings the next generation through the same door.
🤝
Partners & Colleagues
You’ve watched Aspire operate. Monthly giving is the most direct vote of confidence in the approach.
🌎
New Supporters
You found Aspire because you believe talent is universal and opportunity isn’t. This is where that belief becomes something real.
PEER-TO-PEER FUNDRAISING
Bring your network in.
Whether you’re an Aspire Leaders Program alum, a mentor or speaker in our network, or simply someone who believes in the mission — a fundraiser in your name reaches people Aspire never could on its own.
- Start a fundraiser in your name — takes two minutes.
- Share your story: your connection to Aspire and why you’re supporting it.
- Share your personal link with friends, family, and colleagues. Every $10 donation supports one more learner.
🚀
Fundraise for Aspire
Launch a personal fundraiser and bring your network into the Aspire community. FundraiseUp provides a page, tracking, and tools to share your story.
READY TO GIVE?
Join the giving community.
Two minutes to set up. Cancel anytime. Tax-deductible for US donors.
Know someone who can give? Share this page ⬇
Why Aspire
✓ 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit — donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers
✓ Co-founded by Harvard Business School faculty: Tarun Khanna and Karim Lakhani
✓ Programs have been free to every learner since day one, in every country
✓ Secure checkout via FundraiseUp — all major payment methods, 135+ currencies
✓ Processing by Stripe or PayPal — Aspire Institute does not store your payment credentials
Common Questions
-
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.
-
Is my donation tax-deductible?
For US donors, yes — Aspire Institute is a registered 501(c)(3) and your donation is tax-deductible under US federal law. You’ll receive a receipt after each gift; monthly donors receive an annual summary in January. For donors outside the US, we’ll provide a receipt for your records, but whether your donation is deductible depends on your country’s tax laws — we recommend checking with a local tax advisor.
-
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.
-
How does peer-to-peer fundraising work?
Click “Start a Fundraiser” to create a personal fundraising page hosted by FundraiseUp. You write your own story, set a goal, and share your link. All donations go directly to Aspire — you never handle funds.
-
Can I make a larger or one-time gift?
Absolutely — use the checkout form to give any amount. For major gifts or institutional giving, reach out at donations@aspireleaders.org.
-
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.
-
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.
-
I have a question about my donation. Who do 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.
