A scam can begin with the right message reaching the right person at the right time. Learn why scams succeed, why local governments have an important role to play, and how trusted public resources can help residents prevent, recognize, and respond to fraud.

Public Servants is proud to sponsor the 2026 Service to the Citizen Awards as a challenge coin sponsor, celebrating the individuals and teams whose work strengthens public services and improves lives across the United States.

Public Servants is seeking city managers, county managers, town managers, chief administrative officers, and other local government leaders to participate in a national research effort exploring leadership experiences in local government.

Public policy influences how governments address shared challenges and pursue public goals. Learn what public policy is, how it takes shape, and why implementation matters just as much as the decisions themselves.

Public interest refers to the well-being of the broader community—prioritizing outcomes that benefit society as a whole. But in practice, defining and delivering on the public interest requires more than intention. It demands clear judgment, inclusive design, and systems that translate values into real-world impact.

City and town councils play a central role in how communities function—from passing local laws to deciding how public funds are spent. This overview explains what councils do, how they’re structured, and how they work with mayors and managers to shape public services.

Project, program, and product roles are often used interchangeably in public service, but they serve distinct functions. This piece clarifies how each role shapes delivery, coordination, and long-term outcomes—and why understanding the difference leads to more effective, accountable services.

In an era of constant change, building a creativity-empowered workplace culture is serious business. Our guest author shares three actionable ways leaders can embed creativity into organizational culture and everyday operations—moving it from a siloed function to a shared responsibility.

Institutional transparency is not just about releasing information. It is about designing systems of openness that allow people to understand how decisions are made, how power is exercised, and how public value is created. This Civic Glossary entry explores what transparency really means in government and nonprofit institutions—and why it is foundational to public trust.