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University Fellowship

at Harvard

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Every year, the brightest students are recruited by consulting firms, banks, and tech giants: industries optimizing for margin, not meaning.

The Moral Ambition University Fellowship is an exclusive program for sophomores at Harvard — and an invitation to choose a different path.

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Let’s redefine success

We believe the next generation of leaders can — and must — channel their ambition toward solving the defining challenges of our time such as poverty, democracy, climate, and justice.

Over 10 transformative weeks and paying $15k for the summer, fellows will work full-time with a high-impact nonprofit organization, tackling problems that matter and learning what it means to build a career grounded in moral ambition rather than mere achievement.

The Program

Sophomore year recruiting for summer after junior year is the single biggest funnel into consulting and banking — two paths that capture the talent we most need elsewhere. The program is designed to break that pattern and expand how we define ambition at a community like Harvard.

april 5

Application due

Applications for the program are now closed.

Spring

Ramp up

During the spring, fellows will engage with bi-weekly speakers, participate in upskilling workshops, and take part in team-building and bonding activities designed to prepare them for the summer internship.

Summer

Internship

Fellows will complete placements at an exceptional host nonprofit. They will develop pivotal skills in modeling, policy research, and philanthropic innovation, gaining hands-on experience that prepares them to make meaningful impact.

Return

Beyond

After the internship, fellows will gain lifelong access to the SMA network, contribute to recruiting and supporting the next cohort, and receive guidance for career placement post-graduation.

”
Too often, students take (...) jobs for the security and clear routes they provide — but no one should sink into the “Bermuda Triangle” for the sole reason of safe passage. Harvard should take heed and cement pathways to assuage students of the instability of public service.
—
The Harvard Crimson Editorial Board

We offer

Compensation
A $15,000 summer stipend.
Experience
Full-time placement at a mission-driven organization, centered in New York City or Washington, DC.
Network
Access to a network of peers, mentors, and changemakers who believe success should mean improving the world, not exploiting it.

We're looking for

We’re seeking twelve exceptional Harvard College sophomores who refuse to accept that the only way to be “successful” is to sell out. You should be:

  • Ready to take bold, thoughtful action in the face of daunting problems.
  • Ready to take bold, thoughtful action in the face of daunting problems.
  • Eager to spend your summer doing urgent work
”
There are issues around the world that impact millions of people that are solvable, but no one is solving them. That struck a chord because I think it's happening on our campus and campuses across the country. The minute I got home, I had to email him.
—
Kyler Zhou
Princeton Senior

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The fellowship began last year as a one-campus trial at Harvard, but The School for Moral Ambition is already expanding the fellowship to a handful of other major universities across the U.S. and hopes to continue growing in the future.

Yes — for now. These first fellowships are exclusively for Harvard and Princeton students. Future cohorts may open up to other schools, but this pilot is designed to build something deeply rooted in the Harvard and Princeton ecosystems first.

The School for Moral Ambition will execute a matching process between host organizations and selected students starting in May 2026 to ensure tight alignment. We anticipate that host organizations will be high-impact nonprofits with potentially disruptive approaches — for example, one host organization leads the largest no-strings-attached giving program in the world.

Selection is based on the full application rather than any single component. Your academic and extracurricular background are relevant, but we are also interested in learning about how you have and will continue to use your talents to create meaningful impact. Your essay responses will help us start to build that picture, and the interview portion of the process will help us to learn more about you and your motivations.

Please email laura@moralambition.org.

Applicants will submit a resume and respond to two short essays questions and may be invited to on campus interviews with our recruiter.

Meet Our Fellows

They quit their jobs, joined the fellowship, and didn't look back. See where they are now.

Meet Our Fellows

From the Field shares personal insights and stories from people working on some of the world's most pressing challenges. It is run by our Moral Ambition Fellows: professionals who left successful careers to work on challenges that are sizable, solvable, and sorely overlooked.

Read Articles

Watch Our Films

Go behind the scenes of the Brussels Fellowship — from training week to the halls of parliament.

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