Public Service Work-Study Grant

Students eligible for federal work-study funding may apply to work during the summer with a nonprofit organization at no financial obligation to the organization. The grant program covers the employer’s expected contribution. Students locate an organization and arrange for a staff member to provide supervision and guidance throughout the course of the internship. Summer grant funding is limited.

Students are also encouraged to use their work-study awards to work with nonprofit organizations throughout the academic year, where the organization pays 15-25% of the students’ wages.

Applications for the 2010 Public Service Work-Study application will be made available beginning April 1 and will be accepted beginning April 26. Applications will be accepted until July 1, 2009. Please drop off applications to Phillips Brooks House, Room 307.

Public Service

In the administration of fellowships at Harvard, public service is defined as work that

helps people meet their need for food, shelter, and health;
improves educational and employment opportunities;
educates people about their legal and/or civil rights;
protects the environment or wildlife; and/or
supports social issues affecting the general welfare.

Work must ordinarily be done for an organization that is nonprofit, nondenominational, and nonpartisan, and there is a preference for work in direct service to individuals.

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Identifying an Organization

Students have great flexibility in locating an organization with which to work. Here are some helpful websites for locating organizations and/or specific positions:

CPIC Twitter Feed (lists latest job opportunities through CPIC)
http://www.twitter.com/harvardcpic

Foundation Center Job Database:
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/jobs

CommonGood Careers:
http://www.commongoodcareers.org

Idealist.org:
http://www.idealist.org

YNPN Careers List:
http://www.lists.ynpn.org/careercenter/results.asp

Eligibility

Students must be eligible for federal work-study funding for the upcoming academic year. This eligibility must be approved by the Student Employment Office.

Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and first-semester seniors planning to return to Harvard in the Fall of 2008 are eligible. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to public service.

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Selection Criteria

Recipients will be selected on the basis of the quality, clarity, and feasibility of their proposals and their previous public service involvement. Preference will be given to those projects which most effectively address a demonstrated need in the community.

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Additional Information

For additional information or questions about this program, please contact the Center for Public Interest Careers at 617-496-5788 or dianawan@fas.harvard.edu.

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