KDK-Harman Foundation

When Janet E. Harman founded the KDK-Harman Foundation in December 2004, it launched her new career. After undergraduate work at Cornell University and graduate work at Stanford University, she had a successful career as an electrical engineer and engineering manager for high tech firms and later formed her own engineering consulting firm.  When her children were young, she “retired” from the workforce to focus on her family and philanthropic efforts.

 Today, Janet serves as Founder and President of KDK-Harman Foundation, which she endowed with over $26 million. KDK-Harman Foundation was created to support educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged families through education and academic programs at area nonprofits. Janet believes education is the key to escape poverty and access higher-paid employment opportunities. “Education is an essential means towards achieving financial independence and enabling a better life for families and their future generations.  A better educated society will result in lower crime rates, a reduction to the burdened healthcare system, and increased economic productivity,” states Harman.

Ms. Harman’s involvement in philanthropy spans years of commitment and service to others. She has been involved at the leadership level at Center for Child Protection and Children's Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas. In recent years, she has also supported St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Lifeworks, and Girlstart.  Throughout the 20 plus years of living in Austin, Janet has volunteered and actively participated in numerous organizations including Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Eanes Elementary, Hill Country Middle School, and Austin Civic Orchestra. She was proud to be the keynote speaker for the 2008 American Youthworks DreamBuilder’s Luncheon.  Currently, Janet serves on the boards of Greenlights for Nonprofit Success and the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. Throughout the 25 years of living in Austin, Janet has volunteered and actively participated in numerous organizations including Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Eanes Elementary, Hill Country Middle School, Austin Civic Orchestra,  Center for Child Protection, and Children's Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas.

Janet lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Kent and her four children, Kevin, David, Kelly and Lauren. Her hobbies include worldwide travel, skiing, and pilates.  Her family enjoys spending time with their four dogs, and two cats.  Janet looks forward to passing on her values of commitment to philanthropic efforts and service to her children by involving them early in their lives.