Bard College Berlin News
Bard College Berlin Announces Julie Johnson Kidd Scholarship Fund
Under the endowment challenge issued in 2021 by the Open Society Foundations, the donation will be fully matched, resulting in a $20 million scholarship endowment for Bard College Berlin. Once the endowment begins generating annual payouts, proceeds will flow directly into student scholarships.
The Julie Johnson Kidd Scholarships will be awarded to non-US students in accordance with Bard College Berlin’s existing financial aid model. Candidates will be admitted to the college on the basis of academic merit, with scholarship amounts determined by demonstrated financial need. “The scholarship fund in my name means a great deal to me,” Julie Johnson Kidd, President of Endeavor, confirmed. “In fact, as I look back over my 50 years at the helm of Endeavor Foundation, I can think of nothing that makes me happier. For BCB to be able to bring in students from all over the world to study, live together, and learn from one another in this special setting addresses beliefs that I have held since a very young age. As long as I can remember, I have been convinced that the ideal world culture is one in which there is interaction, respect for humanity’s differences and similarities, and a joyful relish in knowing and learning from each other no matter our individual backgrounds or beliefs. May BCB always retain that spirit and goal. The future of this planet and all living things on it depend upon these principles.”
Vice President and Co-Program Director of the Endeavor Foundation, Ashley Kidd, expects the scholarships awarded in her mother’s name to have a lasting impact. “Helping curious students with the desire to learn about and grapple with the complex issues of our globalized world attend the College regardless of their financial background or ability to pay helps them to realize their potential and Bard College Berlin to remain a place where diverse perspectives and lived experiences enhance the learning community, making it the dynamic place it is today.”
“This is a transformative gift,” said Florian Becker, Managing Director of Bard College Berlin. “It will support our faculty and staff in doing exactly what they are already doing now, and it will change our future students’ lives as they are already changing our current students’ lives.”
The establishment of the Julie Johnson Kidd Scholarship Program strengthens Bard College Berlin’s long-term financial stability and reinforces its commitment to academic freedom and international education.
Post Date: 03-09-2026