Partnership for Public Service

The Partnership for Public Service is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization devoted to improving the performance of the U.S. federal government and encouraging people to enter public service. Its work combines research, leadership development, public education, recognition programs, presidential-transition support and advocacy for reforms to federal personnel and management systems. Samuel J. Heyman and Ronnie F. Heyman established the organization in 2001. Samuel Heyman, a New York businessman who had earlier worked at the U.S. Department of Justice under Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, created the Partnership to address concerns about the federal government's ability to attract and retain capable employees. The organization began with a $25 million gift from Heyman, followed by a further commitment of $20 million over five years in 2006. Its founding premise was that an effective government depends not only on policy choices but also on the quality, motivation and leadership of the public workforce. The Partnership's programs are aimed at different stages of public-sector service. Go Government provides information and practical guidance for people exploring federal careers, including explanations of agencies, occupations and application procedures. The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, produced with Boston Consulting Group, use employee-engagement data to compare federal departments and agencies and draw attention to workplace leadership and management. The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, commonly called the Sammies, recognize federal employees whose work has produced notable public benefits in areas such as science, safety, management and national security. The organization also works on presidential transitions. Its Center for Presidential Transition offers nonpartisan research, planning tools and technical guidance to presidential candidates, transition teams, career officials, political appointees and Congress. Its resources address issues including transition organization, appointments, Senate confirmations, agency preparation and continuity between administrations. Related initiatives have included Ready to Serve, a guide for prospective political appointees, a searchable appointee-tracking project produced with The Washington Post, and the Transition Lab podcast, which featured former chiefs of staff and transition specialists until its conclusion in 2021. Beyond these public-facing programs, the Partnership publishes studies and recommendations concerning federal recruitment, hiring, leadership, technology, risk management, cybersecurity, civil-service modernization and government collaboration. It frequently provides congressional testimony and supports legislative and administrative reforms involving federal human-capital management. Initiatives associated with its policy work have contributed to debate surrounding the Chief Human Capital Officers Act, service scholarships, federal hiring improvements and changes to the Presidential Transition Act. The Partnership is supported by foundations, corporations and other institutional partners. Its work has involved philanthropic supporters such as the Annenberg Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Peterson Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies, as well as corporate sponsors and research collaborators. In 2020 it announced Partnership West, an initiative beginning in California that sought to apply the organization's expertise to federal talent pipelines, agency networks, leadership development and cross-sector collaboration. In 2021 it also announced the Alliance for Congress to address institutional and legislative challenges. The organization remains focused on the federal workforce, government effectiveness and the practical functioning of democratic institutions.

The Partnership for Public Service was founded in 2001 by Samuel J. Heyman and Ronnie F. Heyman. Samuel Heyman had begun his career at the Justice Department under Robert F. Kennedy after graduating from Harvard Law School in 1963, and later moved into the private sector. He created the organization in response to concerns that the federal government needed stronger mechanisms for recruiting, developing and retaining talented employees. His initial contribution was reported as $25 million, with an additional five-year commitment announced in 2006. From its beginning, the Partnership presented government effectiveness as a workforce and management challenge as well as a policy challenge. It developed research programs addressing federal hiring, leadership, employee engagement, technology and civil-service modernization. Its reports have examined subjects including recruitment and hiring reform, enterprise risk management, cybersecurity staffing, technology adoption and the future of the civil service. The organization also publishes progress reports, guidebooks, congressional testimony and commentary on public-administration issues. The Partnership's recognition and career programs broadened its public profile. The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, launched in 2002, honor federal employees whose work addresses significant national problems. The awards cover categories including federal employee of the year, career achievement, emerging leadership, management, safety and international affairs, and science and the environment. Go Government serves prospective federal employees by explaining career paths, agencies and application procedures. The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, developed with Boston Consulting Group, compare employee engagement across departments and agencies and encourage managers to improve organizational health. Presidential transitions became another major area of activity. The Center for Presidential Transition was created as a nonpartisan source of advice and planning material for candidates, transition teams, career officials, political appointees and Congress. Its work includes transition planning, appointment processes, agency preparation and continuity of government leadership. Ready to Serve helps prospective political appointees understand job searches, background investigations, security clearances, financial disclosures and Senate confirmation. In collaboration with The Washington Post, the Partnership also supported a searchable tracker for executive-branch nominations requiring Senate action. The Center's Transition Lab podcast, hosted by David Marchick, brought transition practitioners and former presidential chiefs of staff into public discussions before ending in January 2021. The organization has sought to influence public policy through congressional testimony, research and support for institutional reforms. Its initiatives have been associated with debates over the Chief Human Capital Officers Act, service scholarships, improvements to federal hiring and expansion of the Presidential Transition Act. The Partnership has also worked with corporations and foundations on research, awards and leadership programs. Supporters identified in reference material include the Annenberg Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Peterson Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies, along with corporate sponsors and research collaborators. In 2020 the Partnership announced Partnership West, initially centered on California. The program was intended to help federal field offices and partner institutions develop talent pipelines, agency networks, leadership capacity and cross-sector innovation. In 2021 the organization announced the Alliance for Congress. Through these programs and its continuing research, awards, rankings and transition work, the Partnership remains an active nonprofit focused on the capabilities and institutional performance of the U.S. government.

• 2021

  Alliance for Congress announced

  [1]Partnership for Public Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  The Partnership announced a program addressing challenges facing Congress and the legislative branch.

• 2020

  Partnership West announced

  [1]Partnership for Public Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  A California-focused initiative was announced to support federal talent, collaboration and leadership development.

• 2006

  Additional founding support committed

  [1]Partnership for Public Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  Samuel Heyman committed an additional five-year contribution to support the organization.

• 2002

  Service to America Medals launched

  [1]Partnership for Public Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  The organization introduced an annual awards program recognizing outstanding federal employees.

• 2001

  Organization founded

  [1]Partnership for Public Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  Samuel J. Heyman and Ronnie F. Heyman established the Partnership to improve federal recruitment and government effectiveness.

Nonpartisan, evidence-oriented institutional partner for improving federal government performance, strengthening the civil service and supporting orderly presidential transitions.

• Awards program · 2002

  Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals

  Known informally as the Sammies, this annual awards program honors federal employees whose achievements produce significant benefits for the public. Award areas include federal employee of the year, career achievement, emerging leadership, management excellence, safety and international affairs, and science and the environment. Winners are selected through a process involving leaders from government, business, media, entertainment and nonprofit organizations.

• Transition-support program

  Center for Presidential Transition

  A nonpartisan resource for presidential candidates, transition teams, career officials, political appointees and Congress. It provides planning guidance and analysis covering transition organization, agency preparation, appointments, confirmations, continuity and the transfer of executive authority.

• Workforce rankings

  Best Places to Work in the Federal Government

  Annual rankings produced by the Partnership with Boston Consulting Group that assess employee engagement across federal departments, agencies and subcomponents. The rankings are intended to compare workplace conditions, identify effective leadership and encourage accountability for organizational health.

• Career information service

  Go Government

  An informational resource for people considering federal employment. It explains government agencies and occupations and offers practical guidance on finding positions, preparing applications and navigating the federal hiring process.

• Political-appointee resource

  Ready to Serve

  A resource for prospective political appointees that explains the appointment process and preparation for background checks, security clearances, financial disclosures and Senate confirmation hearings.

• 2020Partnership West

  United States · California

  An expansion initiative beginning in California, designed to support federal field offices through talent pipelines, agency networks, leadership development and collaboration with state and local institutions.

  Source

• 2020

  Expand operations through Partnership WestStrategy

  Background

  California faced challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and severe wildfires, increasing demand for coordination among federal, state and local institutions.

  Action taken

  The organization announced a California-based expansion focused on federal talent pipelines, agency networks, innovation and leadership development.

  Source

• 2001

  Create a nonprofit focused on federal talent and effectivenessStrategy

  Background

  The founders identified recruitment, retention and management capacity as central to improving the performance of the federal government.

  Action taken

  They established a nonpartisan organization devoted to public-service recruitment, workforce leadership, government reform research and institutional improvement.

  Aftermath

  The Partnership developed awards, rankings, career resources, transition support and policy programs around that mission.

  Source

1. 1Partnership for Public Serviceen.wikipedia.org