The Banyan Impact Fellowship for Service in the US

The AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship, Empowered by Atlas Corps for service in the United States

Priority Application Deadline: Jan 31, 2022

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The AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship for service in the United States is the U.S. service-focused leg of the bilateral Fellowship Program and is being implemented through a partnership with Atlas Corps, a global leader in the design and implementation of long-term Fellowship programs. By creating a channel to enable Indian working professionals to serve across a diverse range of US based organizations including large nonprofits, international entities, smaller domestic organizations and corporate entities, this Fellowship furthers the mission of the Banyan Impact Fellowship Program and accentuates its importance and relevance in the US-India corridor.

Starting 2022, AIF is adding service in the US, to its existing India service-based Fellowship model, to expand on the organization’s existing goals of strengthening the US-India ties driven by civil society. Through a robust 14-month service model being implemented in partnership with Atlas Corps, each year 5 AIF Banyan Impact US Fellows will serve full time with Host Organizations in the United States to develop leadership skills and learn effective practices through the dual professional development and networking opportunities being provided by The American India Foundation and Atlas Corps.

Inception of the US Chapter

The U.S.-India relationship, a coming together of the world’s two largest democracies, has tremendous potential. Historically, this partnership has been strongly rooted in the shared values of democracy and the premise that vibrant people-to-people interactions nurture the bilateral relationship. While both India and the U.S. have benefitted over the last two decades from cooperation, these successes are at risk of being undone by rising isolationism. The AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship addresses this directly by investing in future leaders that foster stronger ties between the two nations, with a more global, collective approach to development challenges faced by humanity. Over the last 20 years, the AIF Fellowship, through its service model, has made powerful investments into U.S.-India citizen diplomacy by shaping the next generation of leaders to advance positive social change.

As we head into the coming decade, reflective of our new realities and faced by global challenges at an unprecedented level, the need to double down efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 becomes more pressing. Recognizing the power of synergy between the US and India and the role that these two nations can play collectively on this front the AIF Fellowship Program is scaling up by introducing a new segment of US based collaborative learning and leadership development opportunity: The AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship for service in the United States.

The new Fellowship being built in partnership with Atlas Corps aims to broaden AIF’s existing constituency of a cross-generational pool of future leaders, civil society and other stakeholders, that strive together to build an equitable and sustainable World in the years to come.

Fellowship Eligibility

To create the next generation of social changemakers in India, we encourage emerging leaders with a minimum of 5 years of professional experience to apply for this opportunity. Ideal candidates are mid-career professionals who have experience leading processes or teams and have influenced an organization’s strategy. Specific requirements for this program include the following:

• Be an Indian Citizen;
• Willing and able to serve remotely from India for approximately four months and on the ground in the United States for the remaining duration of the program. The program starts in July 2022 and ends in September 2023;
• 5 years of relevant experience in the social sector, including nonprofits, social enterprises (including for-profit entities), government (both central and state) & quasi-government bodies, including necessary approvals from the employer for the Fellowship service;
• Between the ages of 27 to 35 by the program start date in July 2022;
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
• English proficiency (oral, writing, reading);
• Able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization before the program starts in July 2022;
• Commitment to return to India and work in the social impact sector for at least two years after completing the Fellowship;
• Committed to enriching learning opportunities for the Fellowship community and positively contributing to building U.S.-India bridges of understanding and partnership during their time of service and after;
• Interest/experience in community-based development and diversity and inclusion.

To learn about the application process and other details, please look up here.