Fellowships
The American India Foundation (AIF) Banyan Impact Fellowship facilitates exchange and collaboration between young professionals from India and the U.S. and aims to shape the next generation of leaders committed to positive and sustainable change and creating a lasting US-India relationship. Fellows serve with civil society organizations in various thematic areas including environment protection, climate justice, public health, education, livelihoods, arts, culture, and more.
- What’s provided: Fully funded 10-month program in India which includes a stipend, health insurance, language training, mentoring, professional development, international networking and career opportunities.
- Location: India
- Field of Study/Work/Focus Area/Industry: Any
- Program Type: International exchange
- Duration: 10 months
Eligibility
- U.S. or Indian citizens, or U.S. permanent residents.
- Must be between 21 and 35 years of age and have obtained their undergraduate degree by the start of the program.
Timeline
| Application launch | To be announced Fall 2026 |
|---|---|
| Application advising | To be announced Fall 2026 |
| Campus deadline | To be announced Fall 2026 |
| National deadline | To be announced Fall 2026 |
How to Apply
Applying for the AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship entails submitting a complete application by the national deadline. Interested students are encouraged to meet with a member of the Fellowships Team to explore the opportunity and receive feedback on their application materials.
1. Complete the AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship application, including:
- Demographic, educational and professional background information
- Answers to short essay questions
- Two professional recommendations (Note: recommenders complete an online survey rather than submit a standard letter of recommendation)
2. Submit the AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship application by the national deadline to be announced Fall 2026.
Finalists will be invited to interview with the AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship team. Recipients will participate in a matching process with a host organization.
For one-on-one support with this fellowship, sign up for open hours.
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