Fellowship Fully funded

EdRedesign Fellowship for Cradle-to-Career Partnership Leaders

Applications closed 6 October 2026

Education
Leadership

Programme details

The EdRedesign Fellowship for Cradle-to-Career Partnership Leaders is a competitive, tuition-free 18-month leadership development programme run by the EdRedesign Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. It is designed for new and aspiring leaders of place-based partnerships that bring schools, government, nonprofits, philanthropy, businesses, health and social-service organisations, community groups, and other partners together around better outcomes for children and families.

The 2026–2028 cohort combines in-person convenings with virtual learning, executive coaching, peer learning, specialised training, mentoring, and a community-based project that Fellows advance through their existing work. The curriculum focuses on leading across sectors, using data while authentically centering youth and family voice, aligning human and financial resources around shared goals, and influencing partners even when the Fellow does not have formal authority over them.

The Fellowship is structured as professional development rather than a salary or cash-grant programme. Participation in the required programme is tuition-free, and current programme information indicates that required travel, accommodation, and meals connected with mandatory Fellowship activities are covered.

Be a new or aspiring leader of a cradle-to-career, place-based partnership, such as a relatively new Executive Director or a senior leader with substantial leadership and decision-making responsibility who is preparing for an Executive Director or CEO role.
Work with a cross-sector partnership focused on a clearly defined community in the United States and on improving outcomes for children, young people, and families.
The applicant's work should involve coordinating multiple sectors or institutions around shared community-level goals rather than operating only as a single direct-service programme.
Demonstrate meaningful leadership experience, commitment to the community served, collaborative ability, commitment to equity, and evidence of impact involving children, youth, or families.
Be able to remain engaged in the applicant's current professional role while participating in the 18-month Fellowship and applying the programme's learning to a real community-based project.
If selected, obtain an employer commitment letter during onboarding signed by the applicant's direct supervisor and the organization's CEO or Board chair confirming support for the time required for Fellowship participation.

Tuition-free participation in the full 18-month Fellowship.
Travel for mandatory Fellowship activities is covered.
Accommodation for mandatory in-person Fellowship activities is covered.
Meals associated with mandatory Fellowship activities are covered.
Executive coaching and mentoring throughout the Fellowship.
Peer learning with a national cohort of cradle-to-career partnership leaders.
Structured learning on cross-sector leadership, data-informed decision-making, youth and family voice, resource alignment, and leading without formal authority.
Opportunity to develop and advance a community-based project connected to the Fellow's existing work.
Harvard-credentialed certificate upon successful completion of the programme.

Important dates

28 Aug 2026
Applications open — 6:00 AM EST
6 Oct 2026
Application deadline — 11:59 PM EST

Required documents

Resume or curriculum vitae

Upload the resume or CV as a PDF with the initial application.
Employer commitment letter

Required only after selection during onboarding, not with the initial application. It must be signed by the Fellow's direct supervisor and the organization's CEO or Board chair to confirm organisational support for the time required by the Fellowship.