The Revson Fellowship
A Program on the Future of New York at Columbia University
The Charles H. Revson Fellowship advances civic leadership in New York City by engaging mid-career urban leaders in an intensive nine-month course of study, research, and reflection at Columbia University.
Each year, the program selects a cohort of ten Revson Fellows, individuals who have made substantial contributions to the city and who reflect its diversity.
Program of Study
The Revson Fellowship provides an opportunity for two semesters of intellectual enrichment. During the Fellowship year, Fellows pursue individually tailored programs of study and participate in bi-weekly Revson Seminars that are uniquely developed to enhance each cohort’s understanding of the complex challenges facing New York City.
Fellowship Award
Revson Fellows receive a financial stipend, tuition benefits, medical insurance, academic guidance, and the opportunity to work with faculty from all branches of Columbia University, as well as access to Columbia’s resources, including libraries, online resources, specialized institutes, and research facilities.
Revson Fellows
Revson Fellows possess strong intellectual interest, leadership abilities, and capacity to benefit from the University’s resources. Fellows wield wide-ranging influence and capacity in diverse fields. They work in the city’s non-profit and governmental agencies, in local grassroots groups and community-based organizations, in firehouses, courthouses and cultural institutions, in museums, newsrooms and classrooms, in cathedrals and mosques.
Alumni Network
Since its establishment in 1979, the program has welcomed over 270 urban leaders to Columbia University. Through their coursework and Fellowship activities, Fellows develop connections with the University and with prominent civic leaders that last long beyond their Fellowship year.
The Revson Fellowship supports a strong and active network of alumni. The vast majority of alumni work in New York City and continue to participate in the program, attending weekly dinner seminars and special events designed to explore urban issues and promote fellowship across cohorts.
Apply Now
Applicants to the program are invited to download or request an application packet. There is no nomination process for applicants; rather, applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation and an application consisting of two essays describing their background and potential program of study. There are no educational prerequisites for the Fellowship. The program welcomes Fellows without previous academic credentials as well as those holding advanced degrees.
The Revson Fellowship is supported by a grant from the Charles H. Revson Foundation.
Coming at a time when my nonprofit organization was on the verge of extinction, the Fellowship enabled me to cobble together a strategy for survival, while acquiring the skills, credentials, and self-confidence to begin the transformation of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions. Three years later, a New York State Community Development Financial Institutions Fund was established through my organization’s efforts. The fellowship year marked a turning point in my professional life; today, in the rear-view mirror, it remains a very prominent landmark and point of orientation.
