HKS Center for Public Leadership: David Gergen Summer Fellowship Program Grant

HKS Center for Public Leadership: David Gergen Summer Fellowship Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) - Harvard University
Amount: US $10,000
Last Updated: November 28, 2025

Summary

The David Gergen Summer Fellowship Program at Harvard Kennedy School offers an exceptional opportunity for students to engage in public service internships during summer 2026. Designed for current HKS students, this competitive program provides financial support for living and travel expenses, along with a robust co-curricular leadership development program. Recipients gain invaluable hands-on experience and networking opportunities, fostering principled public leadership in various sectors, including government and nonprofit organizations.

Overview

Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting-edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match. Center for Public Leadership The Center for Public Leadership’s mission is to inspire and enhance the capacity for principled, effective public leadership in government, politics, civil society, and business. We bring together faculty, students, and practitioners to bridge theory and practice in scholarship, education, and community. David Gergen Summer Fellowship Program The David Gergen Summer Fellowship Program honors David Gergen, founding director of the Center for Public Leadership and long-time mentor and supporter of Harvard Kennedy School students for over two decades. The fellowship was established in recognition of David’s extraordinary commitment to developing the capacity for principled, effective public leadership and in appreciation of the critical role “learning by doing” plays in leadership development. This highly competitive program supports trailblazing public service and leadership opportunities, enabling a select number of Harvard Kennedy School students to gain meaningful, practical, hands-on experience and develop important networks through summer internships in government or nonprofit service. The Gergen Summer Fellowship provides financial support through stipends to cover living and work-related travel expenses during a 10-week summer internship in public service or the nonprofit sector. What We Offer The fellowship provides: Financial support toward a master’s degree program at Harvard Kennedy School. A comprehensive co-curricular program to augment your leadership development A network of exceptional peers and mentors who will enhance your ability to impact the communities you serve Recipients of the Gleitsman Fellowship will receive a need-based scholarship plus a stipend for the course of their study at HKS. Financial support is only provided for the cost of attendance at HKS, joint or concurrent degree students will receive financial aid from the fellowship when HKS is their school in residence as determined by the financial aid office.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. What are the eligibility guidelines for this program?The Gergen Summer Fellowship Program is open to current U.S. and international Harvard Kennedy School students pursuing a public service internship for summer 2026, and who will return to study in person at HKS in fall 2026.Applicants must be returning students enrolled in a two-year degree or concurrent/joint degree program at HKS.Students who meet these criteria and are attending HKS abroad during the 2025–2026 academic year are eligible to apply. Which internships are supported through the Gergen Summer Fellowship Program? The public service internship must be full-time for ten weeks with a government, NGO, or nonprofit organization.Internships may be located globally. In order to receive the stipend, Fellows must be eligible to work in the country where their summer internship is located. CPL does not sponsor visas for Gergen Fellows. Can I apply for another fellowship at the same time?Gergen Fellows join a dedicated cohort who benefit from a unique fellowship experience and contribute as active members of the broader CPL community. While CPL does not prohibit Gergen Fellowship finalists from applying to other Harvard-sponsored internship programs and fellowships, if a Gergen finalist accepts another Harvard-sponsored internship fellowship (i.e., Dukakis, Bloomberg, etc.), they are no longer eligible to be a Gergen Fellow.

Ineligibility

Who is not eligible for this program? Those graduating during the 2025–2026 academic year.Those who are not studying in person at HKS in the 2026–2027 academic year (e.g., joint degree students spending fall 2026 at a different graduate school).Those taking a leave of absence during the previous spring, following fall, or full academic year. Which internships are not supported through the Gergen Summer Fellowship Program?Internships in the for-profit/private sector or working for a political campaign.Research with Harvard faculty. (Students interested in conducting research with a faculty member should work directly with that faculty member and the appropriate research center in seeking funding.)