Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy

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The Friedman School is on a mission: to advance nutritional well-being for all people worldwide. Established in 1981, the school is a world leader in health and nutrition education.

The nutritional crises of our times are many—brought on by famine, war, natural disaster, food insecurity, HIV/AIDS and nutrition, childhood obesity and physical activity issues, as well as the foods we eat, the vitamins we take, and the natural aging process. At the Friedman School, these nutritional crises are not just front-page news, they are problems that require science-based, real-world solutions.

Today, the Friedman School is at a crossroads. For more than 25 years, the school has set the standard for leadership, opening a new dialogue about nutrition and health. The Friedman School has taken the lead in planting the seeds of a vision for nutrition that has clearly taken root and now bears fruit. As part of careful strategic planning, we have established a $50 million goal for Beyond Boundaries: The Campaign for Tufts. Our capacity to make a crucial difference in the human condition depends on our ability to build a foundation for true and lasting excellence.

Our comprehensive campaign includes the following priorities:

Financial aid: $29M

The future achievements and reputation of the Friedman School will rely heavily on the caliber of the students who graduate. Only ten years ago the doctoral program at the Friedman School was limited; now, the number of applications for the doctoral program has mushroomed. Increasingly, though, our ability to attract world-class doctoral students is hampered by our inability to offer a financial aid package that is competitive with other institutions. Indeed, it is clear that the Friedman School is not even competitive with its sister institutions. In the past, the lack of financial aid affected mainly doctoral students in the biological sciences; this is no longer the case. Top-tier policy students are also being wooed aggressively by other institutions. Therefore, a disproportionate share of our efforts is focused on student financial aid–tuition and stipend, and research.

Building Excellence in Teaching and Research: $21M

The school is committed to continuing to attract great faculty. In the coming years we can expect significant turnover within our current senior faculty. We are fortunate that, in order to help attract top level faculty to the Friedman School, Tufts University’s Board of Trustees has approved the first, tenure-track faculty position at the school. 

Research support: $6M  

The Friedman School is well placed within the University family to build strong collaborative approaches to solving complex societal problems. The Friedman School has the breadth of expertise to address the complexity of modern nutrition. Endowment funds are needed to generate seed money and support to provide intellectual and financial incentives for multidisciplinary, cross-school research partnerships. 

Annual Fund: $3.2M

Annual giving is a vital, ongoing source of support for the Friedman School. As a young school with a dedicated but small alumni base, we encourage and deeply appreciate participation from our alumni and friends at all levels. and welcome multi-year commitments. As part of Tufts University’s Beyond Boundaries campaign, the Friedman school will increase outreach to new friends for support. A significant goal of the campaign is not merely to raise new funds, but to markedly expand the school’s base of support and commitment. Learn more about the Friedman Nutrition Fund.

Building the Foundation for Our Future

As the Friedman School looks ahead, we recognize that to accomplish our mission – advancing the nutritional well-being for people worldwide through excellence in research and teaching, and the shaping of public policy – we must increase the endowment. The Friedman School stands ready to forge new collaborations, expand outreach and support, and attract world-class faculty and students. We invite you to become our partner. Your support for this campaign will help us build a solid foundation that ensures our future and allows us to shape a better world.