Call for Applications

Fraternity Fellowship 2025


National Foundation for India (NFI) has been working for about 35 years as a grant-making and capacity-building institution committed to strengthening civil society organisations and advancing social justice. Through its partnerships with over 500 grassroots organizations across the country, NFI has supported initiatives addressing critical social, economic, and governance issues in hard-to-reach regions. NFI’s mission is to enable communities to improve their own lives ensuring that no one is left behind.

About the Fellowship

Fraternity Fellowship 2025 is an initiative to support grassroots leaders working with marginalised communities in Odisha and Chhattisgarh in east central India and Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland in northeast India. The fellowship seeks to uphold and advance the core values of the Indian Constitution - justice, equality, liberty, fraternity, and dignity - through community action and dialogue.

The fellowship aims to:

  • Strengthen the leadership and institutional capacity of individuals and community groups who are advancing constitutional values at the grassroots level.
  • Support initiatives that foster dialogue, inclusion, and social harmony among marginalized and vulnerable communities.
  • Provide a platform for fellows to innovate, learn, and collaborate with others working on similar issues across India.


Through perspective building on issues of social justice, financial support, mentoring, and peer-learning opportunities, the fellowship enables grassroots changemakers to deepen their engagement, broaden their impact, and sustain their work for social transformation.

Eligibility Criteria - Who Can Apply

The Fraternity Fellowship is open to individuals who:

  • Have been actively involved in community work through any grassroots civil society organization (CSO), community-based organization (CBO), or collective (Sangathan), though are not as full-time staff members.
  • Are working on key social issues such as gender, local governance, Dalit, Adivasi, or minority rights, peacebuilding, environmental justice, or related social concerns.
  • Have a strong and trusted relationship with the community they seek to work with during the fellowship period.
  • Are preferably working with youth groups—particularly from Dalit, Adivasi, or minority backgrounds—in either institutional (such as educational) or community settings.
  • Are engaged with or willing to form groups that facilitate dialogue, awareness, and collective action on constitutional rights and values.
  • Belong to or work closely with marginalized communities. Women, Dalit, Adivasi, Minority, LGBTQ+, and individuals from other backward classes are encouraged to apply.
  • Are between 25 and 45 years of age, with preference given to younger applicants within this range who demonstrate strong potential and commitment to social change.

Who cannot apply

  • An individual who is currently working as a full-time employee/consultant with any institution or group.
  • An individual affiliated to any political group in any capacity.


Fellowship Support
Selected fellows will receive:

  • Perspective and capacity-building workshops to deepen the understanding of constitutional values, leadership and community engagement.
  • 1-1 Mentorship to strengthen their engagement with the community for embedding action enabling social justice.
  • Financial assistance as monthly honorarium of Rs. 15000 for a duration of 3 years based on annual review of deliverables and performance.
  • Opportunities for peer learning and networking with fellows and civil society leaders.

Fellowship expectation

Selected fellows will be expected to commit:

  • Full-time engagement to the process of learning as planned during the fellowship.
  • Deliver social action projects towards deepening constitutional values and social justice in the communities they work with as per agreed individual plans.
  • Build and maintain close relationship with mentors and NFI during the course of fellowship.
  • Submit reports and other documentation as per the terms of the fellowship.


Selection Process

The selection process will be rigorous and multi-staged to ensure that the most dedicated and impactful grassroots leaders are chosen:
1. Screening: All applications will be reviewed for basic eligibility, including age, experience, community engagement, completeness, and adherence to criteria.
2. Shortlisting: Eligible applicants will be evaluated based on the impact of their previous work, leadership qualities, engagement with marginalized communities, and the clarity and potential of their proposed fellowship plan.
3. Telephonic Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an initial phone interview to assess motivation, approach, and understanding of constitutional values.Reference checks will also be conducted.
4. In-person Interview: Selected candidates will be invited for an in-person interaction with a panel comprising experts from civil society, academia, and social movements.
5. Final Selection: The jury will assess candidates based on their grassroots impact, commitment to constitutional values, innovation, and vision for future work to determine the final list of fellows. The final list of fellows will be announced thereafter.

The Fraternity Fellowship seeks to nurture a new generation of grassroots constitutional leaders who can build bridges across divides, strengthen democratic participation, and uphold the spirit of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity in everyday life. If you are committed to creating change from the ground up, this fellowship is your opportunity to deepen your journey and make a lasting impact.


Application process for Fraternity Fellowship is now closed. All the shortlisted candidates will be contacted individually.

If you have any queries, please contact: satyendra.pandey@nfi.org.in, utpala.chakma@nfi.org.in