Social Startups Programme in Multiple Cities | Azim Premji Foundation

aikyam; Bengaluru, Saiha; On-site; INR 167,000 - 301,000; Full time

Job summary

Azim Premji Foundation invites development professionals to start and lead grassroots civil society organisations in Bengaluru, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, or North-East India. The programme spans an eight‑month seeding phase with an honorarium, followed by two years of grant‑supported growth and mentorship from the Foundation.

Selected candidates will register a new organisation, complete compliance, and build community relationships, with opportunities for ongoing support and eventual

Qualifications

• Below 40 years of age (as of 1 January 2027).
• Hold a graduate degree in any discipline.
• At least 3 years of full-time field experience in the development sector.
• Willing to relocate to the selected programme location.
• Intend to set up a new civil society organisation and should not already have a registered organisation.
• Willing to work in Bengaluru, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Odisha or North-East India.
• Monthly honorarium during the 8-month seeding phase.
• Guidance on registering your organisation and completing key compliance requirements.
• Practical, hands-on learning to understand community needs and refine your programme approach.
• A peer network of other development professionals building new organisations.
• A pathway to two-year grant support if milestones are met.

Responsibilities

• Phase 1: Seeding (8 months) – Register your organisation and complete essential compliance requirements.
• Phase 1: Attend orientation and training sessions organised by the Foundation.
• Phase 1: Carry out exploratory fieldwork and build relationships with the community.
• Phase 2: Grant support (2 years) – Run your programme on the ground with continued support from the Foundation.
• Phase 2: Build the capacity and strength of your team.
• Phase 2: Work towards milestones that could lead to a regular grant from the Foundation after the two years.

Skills

Grassroots organisation building

Community engagement

Program design

Fieldwork

Nonprofit registration & compliance

Education

Graduate degree (any discipline)

Job description

Social Startups Programme in Multiple Cities | Azim Premji Foundation

Skills this role needs

Grassroots Organisation Building

Community Engagement

Program Design

Fieldwork

Nonprofit Registration and Compliance

Azim Premji Foundation works towards a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society, through its work in education, health, livelihoods and other areas across India.The Social Startups Programme is designed to support development sector professionals who want to set up and lead their own grassroots civil society organisations, rooted in their communities and working to address social challenges on the ground.

Role

The Social Startups Programme is looking for development sector professionals who want to start and lead their own grassroots organisation, in one of the Foundation's programme geographies: Bengaluru, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Odisha or North-East India.

Resposibilities

Phase 1: Seeding (8 months)

• Register your organisation and complete essential compliance requirements (a required outcome of this phase)
• Attend orientation and training sessions organised by the Foundation
• Carry out exploratory fieldwork and build relationships with the community

Phase 2: Grant support (2 years, for those who complete Phase 1 and meet required milestones)

• Run your programme on the ground with continued support from the Foundation
• Build the capacity and strength of your team
• Work towards milestones that could lead to a regular grant from the Foundation after the two years

Requirements

• Below 40 years of age (as of 1 January 2027)
• Hold a graduate degree in any discipline
• At least 3 years of full-time field experience in the development sector
• Willing to work at the grassroots level, including relocating to the selected programme location
• Intend to set up a new civil society organisation (should not already have a registered organisation)
• Willing to work in one of the programme geographies: Bengaluru, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Odisha or North-East India
• Monthly honorarium during the 8-month seeding phase
• Guidance on registering your organisation and completing key compliance requirements
• Practical, hands-on learning to understand community needs and refine your programme approach
• A peer network of other development professionals building new organisations
• A pathway to two-year grant support if you complete the required milestones