Depth grading of magnetic anisotropy in perpendicular magnetic media has been predicted to reduce thefield required to write data without sacrificing thermal stability. To study this prediction, we have producedCo/Pd multilayers with depth-dependent Co layer thickness. Polarized neutron reflectometry shows that thethickness grading results in a corresponding magnetic anisotropy gradient. Magnetometry reveals that theanisotropy gradient promotes domain nucleation upon magnetization reversal - a clear experimental demonstrationof the effectiveness of graded anisotropy for reducing write field.