Ash Institute Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation Harvards Kennedy School of Government Harvard University






Innovations

The Innovations in American Government Program is a significant force in recognizing and promoting excellence and creativity in the public sector. Through its annual awards competition, the Program provides concrete evidence that government can work to improve the quality of life for citizens and that it deserves greater public trust. By highlighting exemplary models of governments’ innovative performance, the Program serves as a catalyst for continued progress in addressing the nation’s most pressing public concerns.

Award Cycle

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Applications submitted on or before September 30th will be considered for the upcoming application cycle. Click Here for more information on the Innovations in American Government Awards program.

Innovation in American Government Awards Application

Click here for information on applying for the 2009 Innovations in American Government Award.


America's Top 50 Innovative government programs as well as the semifinalists of the Annie E. Casey Innovations Award in Children and Family System Reform will be announced on April 15, 2008. These programs will compete for the 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards. The 2008 finalists, to be announced June 3, 2008, will present to the National Selection Committee on June 12, 2008. To attend this free, public event, please contact Emily Kaplan.


 
 

National Selection
Committee

David Gergen, Chairman
National Selection Committee

Each year, the members of the Innovations National Selection Committee meet to select the winners of the Innovations Awards. To view the current members of the Committee, along with brief biographies click here.


In 2007, the Ash Institute celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Innovations in American Government Awards Program. This milestone is an opportune time to revisit the impact of and lessons learned from government innovations worldwide, as well as to identify areas for new research in the field of government innovation. The Ash Institute is executing a constellation of activities surrounding the 20th Award Year, commenced at the awarding of the 20th Year of Innovations Award Winners in the fall of 2007, and culminating in an international conference where that will bring together finalists and winners of the Innovations in American Government Awards from the past 20 years and their counterparts from across the world.


The Innovations in American Government Awards Program, throughout its history, has generated a great deal of research based on winning and finalist programs and on the study of innovation. Below are the different types of research related to Innovations which others will find useful in their own work. The links below offer more information on Harvard Kennedy School case studies, books on government innovation, Ash Institute publications, as well as outside resources, some of which are produced by winners of the Innovations Award.


Press Releases
Press Coverage

Since 1985, the Innovations in American Government Awards Program has recognized over 400 innovative programs and awarded a total of nearly $20 million in grants. Of these programs, 181 have been named winners and received $100,000 grants. An additional 266 programs were named finalists.

These programs represent the finest initiatives undertaken by American government during the last 20 years. Visit the Government Innovators Network to learn more about these creative government initiatives.