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Cambridge

Cambridge

With a nearly 400-year shared history, ºÚÁÏÍø’s deep connection with the City of Cambridge has helped to create the dynamic campus that makes Harvarda special place to teach, learn, live, and work. The University is committed to collaborations that build upon this shared vision of community and that enhance the lives of Cambridge residents.

Meeting the critical needs of Cambridge residents

Harvardworks closely with Cambridge city and nonprofit partners to deliver programs that help respond to regional challenges—such as food security, access to justice, and affordable housing.

  • 1,600+

    Units of affordable housing created or preserved in Cambridge through the HarvardLocal Housing Collaborative

  • 14,000

    hours of pro bono legal assistance for Cambridge residents in FY25

  • 2,000

    Meals donated weekly by Harvardin partnership with Cambridge-based nonprofit, Food for Free

Supporting the local economy

As an anchor institution, HarvardUniversity plays a key role in Cambridge’s economy. The University provides employment, supports tourism, generates spending at local businesses, and drives innovations that lead to new ventures and companies in the City and the region.

  • 24

    Harvardhas been the largest employer in Cambridge for 24 consecutive years

  • 4,500+

    Cambridge residents directly employed by ºÚÁÏÍø

  • $134M

    Spent in construction, supplies, and services in Cambridge in FY24

Supporting Cambridge public schools

Harvardis committed to partnerships designed to ensure that all Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) students have opportunities to achieve academic success. In addition to student programs, Harvardalso seeks to leverage University-wide resources and create opportunities for CPS educators to access professional development, academic coursework, and workshops.

  • $16.3M

    In scholarship aid provided to HarvardCollege students from Cambridge in last 10 years

  • All CPS

    Harvardprograms are available to students in every CPS school, including elementary schools, upper schools, and the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School

  • 48

    Educators participated in professional development programming in FY25

  • 3,700+

    CPS student participants reached through educational, mentoring, and internship programs in FY25

Spotlights

Project Teach– ºÚÁÏÍø’s official college & career awareness programs

Providing all 7th grade Cambridge Public Schools students the tools to pursue their college and career goals.

Science Research Mentoring Program with the Center for Astrophysics

Each year, a selected group of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School students participate in the ºÚÁÏÍø-MIT Science Research Mentoring Program, which provides the opportunity work on a yearlong independent research project under the guidance of…

  • $43.4M

    In Payments-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) to the City of Cambridge in the last 10 years

     

    Harvardwas one of the first organizations to make voluntary payments to the City of Cambridge.

  • $65M

    In taxes paid to the City of Cambridge in the last 10 years

     

    Harvardis one of the top ten largest taxpayers in the City of Cambridge, paying taxes on the University’s non-exempt property.

  • AAA

    ºÚÁÏÍø’s stable presence in the City is cited by the three major credit rating agencies in the nation as supporting Cambridge’s AAA bond rating. The rating has enabled Cambridge to finance a variety of projects at favorable rates, resulting in savings to taxpayers.