Programs

Launched in 2025, Harvard Impact Labs supports Harvard faculty in conducting research in collaboration with real-world practitioners to tackle some of the world’s most pressing social problems. 

We provide funding, coaching, and support for faculty to plan, launch, or evolve impact labs and to take leaves to work in government agencies or nonprofits. We also work to reduce administrative barriers to engaged research, facilitate engagement with scholars at other universities conducting solutions-focused research, and provide individual coaching for faculty who seek advice on their engaged research projects.
 

Impact Labs

We offer funding through a competitive selection process to support Harvard faculty in launching solutions-focused research conducted with external organizations. We also provide labs with assistance with functions such as communications, hiring, fundraising, data sharing agreements, and relationships with governments and nonprofits.
 

Impact Lab Development Fellowship

We offer a nine-month fellowship for 8-10 faculty each year to help them prepare to launch a solutions-focused research project in collaboration with an external organization. Faculty participate in a monthly workshop, receive one-on-one coaching and support, and receive $25,000 in seed funding.
 

Public Service Leaves

We offer funding for faculty to take leaves from Harvard to work in government or at nonprofits. So many of the faculty conducting engaged research learned the necessary skills by spending time outside of academia. Working in government and at nonprofits can inform scholars’ research and teaching, deepen their understanding of problems and potential solutions, and pave the way for innovative research partnerships.