Countless students were able to get a Duke education thanks to Bruce Karsh.
The philanthropist’s generosity included a $50 million donation he and his wife, Martha, made in 2011 to support undergraduate financial aid.
That support for undergraduate need-based assistance – $30 million for American students and $20 million more for international students – “helps safeguard our commitment to keeping a Duke education accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds,” Duke President Richard Brodhead said when the gift was announced.
That gift included $5 million for an endowment providing tuition and other resources for graduates of the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP), which offers college prep in underserved communities.
“Martha and I believe strongly that motivated, talented students – whether from underserved communities in the U.S or from around the globe – should be able to attend a great university like Duke, which can nurture their talent and help them reach their potential,” Karsh said at the time.
Their 2011 gift was the third financial commitment the Karshes made to undergraduate education and aid at Duke; they had previously given $32 million for resources for domestic and international students.
In 2016, Duke named the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support to honor the family’s commitment to student success at Duke.
The Karshes also provided the lead gift in support of Duke’s Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center, which opened in 2019 and is the symbolic front door to campus. The 48,000-square-foot facility hosts everything from information sessions for prospective students to back-to-campus events for alumni.
Karsh, the co-founder, co-chairman and chief investment officer of Oaktree Capital Management, is a 1977 Duke graduate, emeritus trustee, and spent 10 years as chair of the board of DUMAC, which manages Duke’s endowment.
In 2016, Karsh was awarded the University Medal, Duke’s highest honor for service.
