Fong Family Winternship Program

Eligibility Requirements:

Winternships are open to all current Harvard College undergraduates.

If you are currently on leave but plan to re-enroll in Spring 2026, you may participate in our programming. If you plan to apply, reach out to your Resident Dean as soon as possible to request to be approved to return from leave. You must be approved to return from leave by the Ad Board before accepting our offer to participate. 

Application Guide:

A sample proposal and additional application resources can be found here. 

Organization Directory: 

For help identifying potential organizations to work with, please refer to the Pathways to Funding & Organization Directory. This directory provides a comprehensive list of resources for your public service journey, including over 500 potential host organizations for summer internships and search engines for nonprofit positions. 

Application Process: 

Interested students should apply via the Fong Family Winternship Application in CARAT. (Opens 10/30/25 at 12 noon.) Applications are due Monday, December 1, 2025 by 11:59pm ET. 

To apply, applicants must submit:

1. A 1-page resume noting your skills, previous employment, extracurricular activities, and volunteer experiences.
2. A 500-750-word statement outlining the fellowship project and describing how it will benefit the community. We understand that the exact specifics of your project may be subject to change, but this proposal should include:
   1. Background: Describe the community you plan to serve and highlight any connections from your own experience with this community
   2. Issue: Describe the specific issue you hope to address through this project and why you care about the issue
   3. Project Plan: Outline how you will spend three weeks working towards supporting this community and this issue; include specific ways you plan to tackle your community needs
   4. Qualifications: Explain the skills and experience you bring to the work why are you qualified to conduct this project
   5. Impact: Explain the impact you hope your project will have on the community and what you hope to learn from this experience
3. A copy of your unofficial student record (found at my.harvard.edu)
4. A signed letter of sponsorship from your supervisor. Your letter of sponsorship confirms the viability and feasibility of your project. This  letter should include the following:
   1. The name of the organization you will be working with (on their letterhead is preferred)
   2. Your supervisor’s name, title, and contact information
   3. Confirmation of your project scope and anticipated outcomes
   4. Confirmation of the program start and end dates (January 5-23rd) and total hourly work commitment (50 hours)
5. As relevant, begin your pre-departure travel requirements, particularly the health clearance process, if your project is not in the United States. See below for more details.  

For application support and help writing a resume, check out these resources from the Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS). 

Important Pre-Departure Travel Requirements for International Projects

If your fellowship project will take place outside of the United States, you must fulfill Harvard's pre-departure travel requirements, even if you are traveling to your home country. 

Given the timing of the fellowship, we strongly encourage all applicants to begin these requirements, particularly the health clearance process, as soon as possible and even before submitting your application. If you are selected for a project, your participation will be contingent upon successful completion of all pre-departure requirements.

Next Steps:

1. Log in to Harvard’s Health and Safety Pre-Departure Portal:
   • Create a new trip in the system.
   • Complete all listed requirements.
   • Select “Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship” from the dropdown menu.
2. Upload documentation showing you've completed each requirement, including:
   • Obtained Health Clearance. Please note: This process can take several weeks, so please start immediately!
   • Registered your travel in the International SOS MyTrips Portal.
   • Submitted a Travel Waiver Release Form.
   • Watched the Global Support Services Online Orientation.

Key Dates and Timeline:

The answers to most questions can be found in our Student Application Guide.  

Q: How can I apply for the Fong Family Winternship Program?

A: All interested students should apply via CARAT. 

Q: What am I required to do in order to participate in the Winternship Program?

A: All participants are asked to develop a project with a community organization/non-governmental organization. Students should plan to work with their host organization for three weeks. Participants must submit a 500-word reflection paper and attend a post-program campus event in late January.

Q: How can I find an organization to work with? 

A: We encourage students to explore organizations that align with their interests. As a starting point, the Pathways to Funding & Organization Directory is a helpful resource. The directory includes search engines for nonprofits and a list of over 400 potential host organizations, including many organizations that have hosted Harvard students in the past. 

Q: What kind of projects will qualify for this program? 

A: Winternship projects should be community-based and solution-focused. Partner organizations should be community-based. All community organizations involved must comply with Harvard anti-discrimination policies. 

When designing a project, think about the following questions: What are the issues that you have noticed in your community that need to be addressed and can be reasonably tackled in three weeks?  

Examples of solution-focused projects:

• Creating a better logistical system for food delivery at your local food pantry
• Providing a direct service that meets a community need
• Developing a technical solution that serves as a community resource
• Building and implementing a better marketing or fundraising plan for a local nonprofit 

Q: Can projects be in-person or remote?

A: Yes, students may apply with in-person or remote projects.

Q: How specific should I be in my application? 

A: We look for issue, plan, and impact specificity. Your application should clearly convey the issue you have identified and are trying to solve. For example, you have noticed that the after-school program at which you volunteer has lesson plans that could benefit from incorporating cutting-edge learning and teaching science into it. You should explain in detail why that is an issue worth solving. Next, you should describe your plan for solving this issue in detail. Lastly, describe why you find yourself in a position to solve this issue and how impactful such solutions would be to the community.

Q: I started my own nonprofit. Can I apply with a project that supports my own organization? 

A: Yes, if you've started your own registered nonprofit, you are welcome to apply for a project related to this work. However, your supervisor may not be yourself or a peer. You must identify a non-peer member of the board or equivalent mentor to apply. 

Q: What are you looking for in terms of impact? 

A: We look for a project or role whose outcomes have the potential to positively influence the community. Such outcomes need to be clearly stated. They should also be realistic, given the time constraint you’ll be under. 

Q: Once selected, will I do my service project on my own? Will there be anyone helping me accomplish my goals? 

A: You will not be expected to work on your own under the supervision of a mentor. As part of your application process, you will be asked to identify a community leader within your organization to help guide your project and supervise your winternship. You will be primarily accountable to your supervisor at the community organization. You will have support from staff as well as other Winternship participants. While we will provide support, we expect that you take initiative, leadership, and ownership over your project. 

Q: Will I be able to communicate with the other Harvard College students? 

A: Yes, you will have the opportunity to connect with other winterns before the experience and debrief with them again after the experience. 

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions about the program?

A: All questions should be addressed to pathways@fas.harvard.edu.