Are you Eligible?

At ISDM, we seek passionate individuals and teams dedicated to driving social impact through innovative and sustainable initiatives. Our Fellowship is designed for changemakers who fulfil the eligibility requirements

Fellow Eligibility
Mentor Eligibility

General criteria

Open exclusively to residents of India.
We encourage applications from individuals and groups historically underrepresented, such as women, LGBTQIA+ communities, Dalits, Adivasis, and persons with disabilities.
The applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to ISDM’s mission, values, and the Fellowship’s thematic focus for the year.
The Fellowship is open to both individuals and teams
Teams should have at least one member with thematic experience and one with social sector experience, and additional members may contribute with supporting skills (tech, finance, communication, etc.)
Applicants should have 3-5 years of relevant professional experience.
Must have a proven track record in their area of focus, supported by documented evidence of past work.
Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently and deliver impactful outputs within Fellowship timelines.
Proficiency in community engagement, stakeholder management, and ethical practices.
Must be willing and able to dedicate 15–20 hours per week to the Fellowship. Some outputs, such as Digital Open Solutions, may require a minimum of 30-40 hours per week, based on their approach and solution.
Availability to attend key program milestones, including orientation, review meetings, and the final showcase (virtual or in-person).
The applicant must have a Mentor as part of the team (refer to our Mentor Eligibility Criteria section before choosing your mentor)

Relevant Experience

For Research-Focused Applicants
- Expertise in research, data analysis, and report writing.
- Publications, research papers, or prior projects in the chosen thematic area.
- If currently pursuing a PhD, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the supervisor is required. The PhD supervisor is encouraged to act as a mentor or formally acknowledge and support the applicant’s participation in this program.
For Practice-Focused Applicants
- Hands-on experience in designing, implementing, or evaluating programs in the social sector.
- Evidence of impactful work, such as case studies, project outcomes, or community testimonials.
- For Digital Open Solutions, at least one team should have data science skills, such as the development of applications, AI models, open-source tools, and dashboards.

Note:

ISDM prioritises projects demonstrating innovation, scalability, and alignment with grassroots needs.
Mentors are there to support and guide, but Fellows retain primary responsibility for project deliverables
Applications will be evaluated based on thematic relevance, team diversity, and potential for social impact.
A fixed stipend is awarded per project, irrespective of team size.

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General criteria

Strong interpersonal skills to guide Fellows from diverse backgrounds.
Willingness to collaborate with ISDM’s team for program alignment (e.g., reviews, feedback sessions).
Responsiveness to Fellow/ISDM queries within a reasonable timeframe.
Mentors must be willing to dedicate at least 20 hours over the Fellowship duration, which includes:
- Engaging in monthly mentoring and progress check-in calls with the Fellow/Fellow team and participating in quarterly review meetings alongside the ISDM team and other reviewers
- Mandatory attendance at orientation and showcase events (in-person/virtual as required) — however, this does not count toward the 20-hour commitment.
- Ad-hoc engagement with the ISDM team for feedback or strategic input.
- Supporting light documentation of monthly mentoring and progress check-in conversations (either directly or through the Fellow) in alignment with ISDM’s simple reporting norms
- Signing off on all deliverables for each milestone.
Adherence to ISDM’s reporting requirements, including progress updates and feedback forms.
Maintain confidentiality and ethical standards in all interactions.
Prior mentoring/coaching experience in the social sector or development programs.
Familiarity with ISDM’s ecosystem or partner organisations is welcome, though not a prerequisite
Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to ISDM’s vision of strengthening social change through leadership and management.

Relevant Experience

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- A minimum of 10+ years of demonstrated expertise in the relevant thematic area - Data Science, Innovative Finance, Philanthropy - or a closely related field aligned with the applicant's proposal
- A proven track record of impactful work, thought leadership, or innovation within their domain.

Note:

Openness to working with early-stage projects and nurturing Fellows' growth.
Mentors participate pro bono; no separate fees or stipends are provided.
Project stipends will be disbursed directly to the team’s SPOC, who will have the discretion to allocate the amount accordingly.
Mentors may be invited to contribute to ISDM’s knowledge platforms, such as workshops or blogs, as optional engagements.