Summer Community Service Fellowship Program
Support students as they pursue a career in public service while giving back to your community!
The registration window for Clubs and SIGs to sign up to fund fellows for Summmer 2026 is open through Friday, December 5, 2025.
The Summer Community Service Fellowship (SCSF) invites Clubs and Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) to fund one or more Harvard students interested in exploring the public interest field. Participating organizations commit to funding fellows over the summer break as they undertake an unpaid internship at a local nonprofit or design their own public service project.
The SCSF stipend reduces the financial burden on students and incentives them to explore public service opportunities. Funding is intended to support a student over 10 weeks of full-time work and cover their costs of living.
Per CPSES guidelines, it's recommended that Clubs and SIGs donate a minimum funding of $6,000 per student. This amount aligns with other summer funding opportunities available at Harvard College, which range from $6,000 to $8,000. For the 2026 Summer Fellowship, the minimum funding amount for Clubs and SIGs has been increased to $5,000. This adjustment is intended for Clubs and SIGs that are unable to fund students at the $6,000–$8,000 level this year – we continue to welcome your partnership. Please note that the minimum funding requirement for the SCSF will increase to $6,000 for the 2027 Summer Fellowship.
Established in 1992, SCSF provides one of the largest sources of funding for summer public service for Harvard College undergraduates. SCSF is co-managed by the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) and the Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship (CPSES) – a part of Phillips Brooks House.
Learn more about the program through the SCSF FAQ.
2025-2026 Important Dates
November 5, 2025: Registration opens for Clubs and SIGs to participate in SCSF - REGISTER NOW!
December 5, 2025: Deadline for Clubs and SIGs to register their participation in SCSF.
February 16 - March 29, 2026: Student application window.
Early April, 2026: Student applications are shared with Clubs and SIGs.
April 14, 2026: Deadline for Clubs and SIGs to select which students to fund.
Early-May, 2026: Orientation hosted by CPSES for fellows covering program participation guidlines and expectations.
May, 2026: Clubs and SIGs to submit funding payments.
SCSF Resources
- Sample Outreach Language: Sample language to engage with your SCSF fellows over the course of their fellowship.
- Summer 2025 Fellows Quotes: Approved quotes from SCSF Summer 2025 Fellows. Clubs and SIGs are welcome to feature these quotes in their SCSF marketing and fundraising materials.
How to Participate
1) Register for SCSF. Registration is open! Per CPSES guidelines, it's recommended that Clubs and SIGs donate a minimum funding of $6,000 per student. Clubs and SIGs may choose to include additional fellowship parameters upon registering.
2) Select your fellow(s). Participating Clubs and SIGs review the pool of applicants and select a student to fund. Students will be notified by the HAA and CPSES and must confirm acceptance before being contacted by a Club or SIG. 3) Engage with the fellow(s). Clubs and SIGs are encouraged to connect with and mentor the fellow(s) during the summer. This includes inviting fellows to the organization's events and sharing career experiences and guidance.