We are completely committed to making FOP accessible to any interested student, regardless of their financial background. Each year, dedicated leaders, alumni, and friends of the program donate money to help move us toward this goal.

The money we raise will be used to reduce financial barriers for students interested in participating in FOP.  Usually that means direct financial aid, but could also mean purchasing equipment to loan to students to help them avoid buying expensive outdoor gear they may not use again. We have received gifts from $15 to $15,000 - every little bit helps! For those of you who have donated before, we are incredibly appreciative of your support. For those of you interested in giving to FOP, the options are listed below. Thank you again for your generosity.

Note:  If you are an alum, your gift to FOP will count toward your class gift.  You do not need to take any special action for this to occur.

FOP Fundraising Campaign 2024

As you know, FOP is more than just a pre-orientation program; it's a transformative experience that lays the foundation for countless future leaders. This year as we welcome a new director and plan for the future of FOP we are eager to expand our program to help even more freshmen gain friends, skills and confidence in their transition to harvard!! 

We are looking to raise $40,000 in order to support 50 additional participants on financial aid and to train 15 additional leaders in order to expand the number of participants we can serve! Your generous donations will go directly towards providing financial aid to participants who may otherwise be unable to afford this invaluable experience and to expanding our leader training program.

To show our appreciation for your generosity, we're thrilled to offer a range of FOP t-shirts and swag at different donation tiers:

• A fuzzy night with Fuzzy Cheesecake ($20+): Fund a FOP trip’s dessert of Fuzzy Cheesecake (our favorite final night tradition) and receive a FOP sticker in the mail to proudly display your support for FOP!!

• Keep a FOPper dry!! ($50+): Fund a set of rain gear for a FOPper and receive a past leader t-shirt to reminisce on your FOP days!

• Where is all your stuff?!? In a backpack!!! ($100+): Fund a new backpack so FOPpers can carry all the things they need to have a great time and receive an athletic material FOP t-shirt to wear on your next outdoor adventure!

• Fund a FOP Participant ($500+): Support a First-Year’s participation in FOP and allow them to experience the magic of conversations on trail and processing under the stars and receive a FOP Crazy Creek chair to make sitting around a campfire even more fun!

• Fund a FOP Leader’s Training ($750+): Fund a student’s training to become a FOP leader, to learn leadership and outdoor skills that they will carry with them long after FOP ends and receive an Outdoor Research fleece to keep you warm while hiking!

Please first make a donation and then using this order form link you will be able to choose your item! 

Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. Your support will not only help us sustain our current programs but also expand our reach, allowing us to impact even more students in their very first moments on campus and leaders to develop skills they will use for years to come.

Online

You may donate online through the Harvard Alumni Association website.

In order for FOP to receive your gift, please make sure that you:

1. Under the "Select a Fund" dropdown menu, choose "OTHER - Harvard College"
2. In the "Other Fund Name" box that appears, enter "Harvard First-Year Outdoor Program"

Via Mail

If you would like to donate by mail, please send a check made payable to "Harvard First-Year Outdoor Program" to our mailing address:

Harvard FOP
Harvard College Dean of Students Office
1 Oxford Street
University Hall, Ground Floor South Suite
Cambridge, MA 02138

Please submit the check along with this donation form.

Annual Report

Whether or not you have given to FOP, you may be interested to learn more about how FOP donations are allocated or to read some of the wonderful memories that come out of FOP trips. FOP's Annual Report, "The Fuzzy Cheesecake," contains letters from first-year "FOPpers," FOP Leaders, leader alumni, parents, and staff members from Harvard, past and present. It also provides more insight into our hopes and dreams for the years to come.