The Ash Center supports HKS student-led events and initiatives as well as independent study. Preference is given to projects with Ash faculty involvement and applied learning opportunities that overlap with the Center’s core research and programmatic priorities.
Interested students may direct funding inquiries to Christina Marchand, Senior Associate Director, Programs.
Research Grants
The Center awards research grants to HKS students for independent research projects on an ongoing basis. Research projects are selected based on several criteria:
- Connection to Ash Center-affiliated faculty (either in an informal or formal advisory capacity)
- Relevance to one of the Center's areas of focus
- Well-developed research plan and appropriate budget
We invite you to review examples of Policy Analysis Exercises, Second Year Policy Analyses, and independent research by Harvard Kennedy School students whose work was supported, in part, by the Ash Center.
download a copy of the 2022-23 student funding application
Student Group and Journal Support
The Ash Center supports many student organizations and journals which focus on one of our areas of interest. We welcome funding applications from groups and journals as well; please refer to the independent research application for guidelines on submitting an application. We also welcome "standard" proposals used by groups and journals to fundraise across HKS.
Student Democracy Innovation Grant Competition
In 2022, the Ash Center’s Democracy Innovation Fund offered Harvard Kennedy School students who have an innovative project that addresses challenges to democracy or advances democratic principles. Five HKS students or student teams were awarded up to $5,000 in recognition of an idea or project—whether policy, community, scholarly, cultural, or artistic in nature—that enables them to think creatively, to learn, and to explore democracy in innovative ways. Please check back for information on future grant competitions.