The Face of Public Service is Changing

As the emerging field of social enterprise gathers momentum, it is sparking a fundamental rethinking of the tools and organizational structures used to promote the common good. A major gift from the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation has accelerated this trend by making it possible to train a new generation of public leaders who will be imaginative, tough-minded, and results-oriented in their approach to society’s most pressing needs.

The Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Fellowships in Social Entrepreneurship are designed to equip individuals for national leadership positions that bring the real-world insights of management and entrepreneurship to bear on social problems. We are looking for people who want to change the world: start new organizations, transform bureaucracies in public-sector and nongovernmental arenas, and assume leadership positions in existing nonprofits. Candidates for this fellowship are chosen from among the applicants who wish to pursue public service degrees at the Graduate School of Education, the School of Public Health, and the Harvard Kennedy School. In addition to gaining admission to one of these schools, successful candidates must also have demonstrated experience in tackling social problems. The Fellowship includes tuition and health insurance for the current academic year.

One of the distinctive aspects of this fellowship is the cocurricular program designed by the Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership with the help of other faculty from Harvard. Activities such as discussions with prominent social entrepreneurs, professional skill-building workshops, symposia with members of the faculty, and field trips help extend the learning beyond the classroom.