Program · Fellowship
ACT Fellowship Program
ACT Fellowship Program is ACT's fellowship offering hands-on venture philanthropy experience for early to mid-career professionals.
- Application state
- Accepting
Overview
What ACT Fellowship Program offers
What ACT Fellowship Program is
Overview The ACT Fellowship Program is a full-time, nine-month apprenticeship for early to mid-career professionals who want to work in social impact, impact investing, venture philanthropy, or social entrepreneurship. It is run by ACT, a non-profit venture philanthropy platform applying venture-capital methods to philanthropic grantmaking for technology-led social impact in India. Fellows work inside one of ACT's four focus areas: ed-tech, public healthcare, climate action, or gender inclusivity. The official page says Fellows work 40 hours per week on sector research, dealflow sourcing, due diligence, investment pitches, portfolio management, impact assessment, collaborative programs, industry events, and partnerships.
Operational profile
Program status and context
Program status describes the program itself. Application availability and deadlines remain separate.
- Operational status
- Active
- Program type
- Fellowship
- Host organization
- ACT (Action for India)
- Last reviewed
- June 14, 2026
Terms and economics
Published program terms
- Stipend
- $720
- Price
- Free
- Compensation
- Stipend
Compensation and economics
Compensation Fellows receive a stipend of Rs. 60,000 per month for the duration of the fellowship.
Focus and fit
Who the program is for
Program thesis
Thesis ACT backs technology-led innovations that can address India's complex social needs at scale. The Fellowship maps Fellows into education and skilling, public healthcare, climate action, or gender inclusivity, giving them experience applying venture-capital principles to philanthropy.
Eligibility
Eligibility Applicants must be resident Indian citizens, graduates of an accredited university in India or abroad, have at least two years of full-time work experience, and be based in or willing to relocate to Bombay, Delhi, or Bangalore for the program. Founder, strategy consulting, investment banking, impact investing, or social-sector experience is an advantage but not required.
Selection approach
Admissions The official process starts with an online application before the stated deadline; shortlisted candidates are invited to a virtual case interview, then an in-person interview with ACT leadership. Selected candidates undergo reference checks before ACT matches them to a vertical.
- Stages
- Pre-seed
- Regions
- India
- Audience
- Operators · Investors · Founders
- Geographic eligibility
- In
- Career stage
- Early Career · Mid Career
Format and cadence
How participation works
- Presence
- In Person
- Main location
- Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, India
- Duration
- 39 weeks
- Cohort size
- 6
- Cohorts per year
- 1
- Engagement
- Full Time
Delivery model
Presence The program is delivered in-person, requiring fellows to be based in Mumbai, Delhi, or Bangalore.
Participation expectations
Engagement Fellows work full-time, committing 40 hours per week to the program.
Availability and engagement
Application timing and route
- Application state
- Accepting
- Admissions
- Application Only
- Application materials
- Resume · Written Statement · Interview · References
Published timeline
Timeline The current page says 2026-27 applications will open in June 2026 and provides a "Register Interest" form. The most recent fully dated cycle found was 2024-25, which Hindustan Times reported had six seats, a September 2024 start, and an August 13, 2024 deadline.
Value and support
What participation may provide
Publicly described support is context, not a guarantee of current delivery or future benefit.
What participants may receive
Benefits Fellows receive a stipend of Rs. 60,000 per month and an experience letter from ACT after successful completion. The program is positioned as a fully funded apprenticeship rather than a paid course; no tuition or participation fee was found. The core benefit is hands-on exposure to venture philanthropy: working with ACT teams on research, sourcing, due diligence, investment pitches, portfolio support, impact assessment, collaborative programs, events, and partnerships.
Outcomes and track record
What the public record shows
Historical activity and reported outcomes provide context, not a guarantee of future results.
- Last recorded cohort
- June 30, 2024
Reported outcomes
Success The fellowship has become a recognized pipeline for talent entering venture philanthropy and social enterprise in India. Many alumni have joined ACT full-time, started social impact ventures, or taken ecosystem leadership roles.
Common questions
Program details at a glance
ACT Fellowship Program is published in Upseed as a fellowship program hosted by ACT (Action for India). Upseed treats the Program and its host Organization as separate records so each can have its own status and sources.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
June 14, 2026
Known limits
Terms, deadlines, and application states can change. Confirm current details at the published destination before acting. Upseed does not yet classify every Program destination as official.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official representative of this program or its host.