A movement of ambitious idealists
The School for Moral Ambition is a foundation dedicated to helping ambitious people take on the world's most pressing problems. We pick the causes others overlook — factory farming, Big Tobacco, unfair tax systems — and empower small groups of driven idealists to solve them.
The best minds of our generation are thinking about how to make people click ads.
Too much talent flows to problems that don't need solving. In Moral Ambition, historian Rutger Bregman made the case for a different measure of success. What began as an idea is now a foundation in Amsterdam and a movement across 150+ countries.
How It Started
Who We Are
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Who's Behind It
The School for Moral Ambition was founded by historian Rutger Bregman, designer Harald Dunnink, former banker Julia van Boven, former consultant Jan-Willem van Putten, and entrepreneur Ruben Timmerman. Today a growing team works from Amsterdam, Brussels, and New York to turn moral ambition into action.
Meet The Team
Our Principles
Everything we do is grounded in seven principles: seeing the world as it is, changing our minds when the evidence does, treating ambition as inspiration rather than envy.
What We Stand For
Our Impact
Since 2024, we've placed 38 fellows inside 30 influential organizations taking on Big Tobacco and factory farming. More than 20,000 people have joined our community across 140+ countries, and we've helped launch new initiatives that now stand on their own.
Read Our Latest Impact Report
How we’re funded
We're a nonprofit foundation, funded by individuals and philanthropic foundations. Never by governments or corporate sponsors. Rutger Bregman donates all proceeds from Moral Ambition to the movement, and we publish our largest funders openly.
Our Funders
What We Do
We help people turn their ideals into action and find their own path to greater impact. We do that through our community, our Circles, and our Fellowships. Each stands on its own; together they're how the movement grows.
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Fellowships
Funded, full-time programs for people ready to commit their careers. Selective, and open for applications at set times each year.
Explore Fellowships
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Community
A free, open community for 25,000+ ambitious idealists in 150+ countries. Join events, expand your network, and meet your people.
Join the Community
Circles
A free, peer-led program for small groups of six to eight. Over 16 weeks, work through a structured path toward greater impact.
Discover Circles
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