Gates Family Foundation Public Leadership Fellowship

The Gates Family Foundation Public Leadership Fellowship supports outstanding public leaders from Colorado to attend Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard Kennedy School. Fellows must participate fully in the three-week residential program, including leadership labs, team projects, and peer learning sessions, and are expected to apply program insights to advance innovation, collaboration, and effectiveness in their public service roles.

Up to seven fellowships are awarded annually to state, county, or local government officials from Colorado. Fellows may attend one of two program sessions: June 7–25 or July 5–23, 2027.

Eligibility & Selection

Applicants must:

• Serve in a state, county, or local government role in Colorado.
• Demonstrate strong leadership and experience managing complex policy, operational, or strategic challenges.
• Show readiness to engage fully in an intensive, interactive learning environment.
• Commit to applying lessons learned to their organization or community.
• Pay $900 towards the cost of the program.

Fellowship Benefits

• Tuition support from the Gates Family Foundation to reduce financial barriers.
• Full participation in the three-week residential program, including housing, course materials, most meals, and immersive learning experiences.
• A transformative leadership experience, developing new frameworks for collaboration, policy design, and cross-sector effectiveness.

How to Apply

1. Complete the online application by the published deadline.
2. When prompted for financial sponsorship, enter “Gates.”
3. Submit any required materials.
4. Fellowship recipients are selected jointly by HKS and the Gates Family Foundation.

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
• In-person Interviews: April 1, 2027
• Program Sessions: June 7–25 or July 5–23, 2027

See a list of recent Gates Fellows here.