Marla and Barry Beck Visiting Social Innovator Program
Forecasted
Marla and Barry Beck Visiting Social Innovator Program supports practitioners through Harvard visits for student coaching, public dialogue, and collaboration to advance social impact.
Funder: John F. Kennedy School of Government
Due Dates (Anticipated): January 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Short campus visits during the academic year
Summary: The program brings accomplished practitioners from around the world to Harvard to advance social impact through student development, dialogue, and collaboration.
Key Information: Participants are selected for established social impact accomplishments and a strong commitment to contributing to students and communities.
Description
The Marla and Barry Beck Visiting Social Innovator Program is hosted by the Social Innovation + Change Initiative (SICI) at Harvard Kennedy School. It brings accomplished practitioners from around the world into the Harvard community to advance positive social impact within and beyond the university. The program emphasizes work that crosses traditional boundaries and brings multi-sector, global, and systems perspectives to social change.
Participants make short, richly programmed campus visits during the academic year, building connections across communities to advance meaningful learning and catalyze action. Their activities include public-facing dialogue on pressing topics, coaching and advising student social innovators, skill development, and collaborative work with SICI and the Harvard community. The program seeks to strengthen individual student development, impact in practitioners’ communities, and the broader social innovation ecosystem.
