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Catalyzing Communities to Shape Their Own Future

We equip communities, organizations, and individuals with the tools to bridge divides, create a culture of shared responsibility, and make community a common enterprise.

Be a catalyst for change

What We Do

For 35+ years, we have innovated breakthroughs that address society’s most pressing challenges and strengthen the civic culture of our communities. In everything we do, we seek to catalyze lasting change by equipping communities to Turn Outward.

Our Work in Communities

We’re working deeply in communities that reflect America’s fault lines to demonstrate we have the will and ability to move forward. 

Get to Know Our Communities 

Enough. Time to Build. Campaign

Addressing the fundamental challenges that hold our communities back demands an alternative to our divisive politics. We need a new civic path.

Join the Campaign

The Harwood School

The Harwood School makes our practical philosophy and approach to change available to everyone, everywhere.

Learn the Harwood Approach

Books to Get You on a Hopeful Path

Rich Harwood’s books deliver on-the-ground examples of how change happens in communities to accelerate your leadership. 

Read Rich’s Books

The Latest from the Institute

  • Reading's Ripples of Change

    Our newest report, Reading’s Ripples of Change: a New Culture of Shared Responsibility, documents the community’s ongoing transformation and serves as a roadmap for growing and accelerating change over time.

    Read the Report

  • Our Crisis of Belief: Reclaiming a Shared Path

    At a time when many find it hard to believe that real, lasting change is possible, two communities are coming together to get things done amid real differences.

    ▶ Here are their stories

  • DeSoto County Coming Together

    DeSoto County, FL, like many places, faces a fundamental choice: Remain stifled and separated or come together and tap its shared capacity to build a brighter future? 

    Read More

  • Frustrated by a lack of progress?

    Four members of The Harwood CIRCLE of Catalytic Funders penned this open letter making this case to funders: It’s time for a different approach to creating change in our communities.

    Read More

Harwood in the News

  • ▶ PBS Video Feature

    The Harwood Institute’s work in Alamance County featured by PBS NewsHour’s “America at a Crossroads” series

    Watch Now

  • Outrage Overload Podcast

    Rich explains why building together is the key to healing divided communities on the Outrage Overload podcast

    Listen Now

  • The Commons in Conversation

    In a Chronicle of Philanthropy interview, Judy Woodruff talks about her time exploring what is tearing Americans apart — and the nonprofits like The Harwood Institute working to bring people together.

    Read Now

  • Inside Philanthropy

    National philanthropic outlet covered our quest to forge a civic path out of the culture wars and rally funders

    Read Now

  • The Fulcrum Democracy Forum

    Rich Harwood interviewed for the “Change Leaders” series hosted by CityBiz/The Fulcrum

    Watch Now

Our Founder Rich Harwood

President & Founder | Innovator. Author. Speaker.

Rich has dedicated his career to innovating a practice and a philosophy for creating lasting change that has spread to all 50 states and 40 countries worldwide. He’s dedicated his 35+ year career to revitalizing the nation’s hardest-hit communities, transforming the world’s largest organizations, and reconnecting institutions like newsrooms and schools to their role in society.