India Leaders for Social Sector

Building talent and knowledge for a stronger social sector. #JointheMovement

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Applications for the next cohort of The ILSS Emerging Women’s Leadership Program close on 1 June 2026.

Some opportunities give you knowledge. Others give you access to people, perspectives and relationships that can shape your leadership journey for years.
The ILSS Emerging Women’s Leadership Program offers both.

✨ Learn directly from leaders, practitioners and changemakers who have spent decades building organisations, shaping narratives and influencing systems—bringing not just expertise, but lived experiences, hard-earned lessons and honest conversations about what leadership truly looks like.
✨ Gain access to perspectives, frameworks and reflections that many leaders spend years seeking out on their own.
✨ Become part of a community of ambitious, purpose-driven women who challenge, inspire and champion one another. Beyond the program, join a network of 200+ EWLP women leaders and the larger ILSS alumni community of 1300+ leaders across sectors for continued learning, collaboration and support.

If you've been thinking about investing in your leadership journey, this may be your moment.

📍 Delhi NCR (Hybrid)
🗓 Program begins: 9 July 2026
⏳ Apply here: https://t.co/IR2sK1Z26T

#WomenInLeadership #ILSS #EWLP #TransformativeLeadership #LeadershipWithPurpose #BehaviorChange #StrategicSkills #SocialImpact #LeadTheChange #ILSSImpact #SoftPower

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

India’s social sector is standing at an inflection point.

As more than 3 million of the country’s registered nonprofits grow in ambition, scale, and complexity, the need for strong, strategic leadership has never been more urgent. Yet one challenge continues to surface across organisations: how do leaders move beyond managing day-to-day operations to building resilient, future-ready institutions?

Over the past year and a half, ILSS engaged deeply with nonprofit leaders across the ecosystem to better understand the leadership and management gaps shaping the sector today. The insights from that research became the foundation for something we’re proud to launch today: The ILSS Advanced Nonprofit Leadership and Management (ANLM) Program.

Designed for second-line (N-1) leaders, as well as founders and CEOs of mid-sized nonprofits, ANLM is an immersive 11-week management and leadership journey focused on strengthening the capabilities needed to solve population-level problems for the country.

Applications for ANLM Cohort 1 are now open! The program begins on 20 August 2026.

🔗 Apply here: https://t.co/MF9mpBELiH

📥 Read the research report that informed the program: https://t.co/Epe9YebeGF

#Leadership #SocialImpact #NonprofitLeadership #SocialSector #InstitutionBuilding #LeadershipDevelopment #CapacityBuilding #ILSS

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

From boardrooms to impact rooms. From expertise to purpose-driven leadership.

Every meaningful change effort is part of a larger system. Understanding how the pieces connect is often what separates intention from impact.

The ILSS Leadership Program brings together accomplished professionals to explore India’s development challenges through a systems lens while strengthening their leadership capabilities needed to create meaningful and lasting social impact.

This opportunity to go back to the classroom - learning alongside academicians, practitioners, and like-minded individuals - offers a deeply enriching exploration of perspectives, lived experiences, aspirations, and realities on the ground. Complemented by rigorous field immersions and experiential learning journeys, the program creates space for reflection, resonant stories, and deeper understanding of what it truly takes to lead change in complex social contexts.

If you are interested in understanding India's development landscape more deeply and exploring how your leadership can contribute to building a more capable and equitable India, we invite you to apply.

Applications for the upcoming cohort are now open:
📍 Cohort 26 | Bengaluru
📅 1–9 August 2026 (9-day residential program)
Apply here: https://t.co/r035xwV9RJ

#ILSSLeadershipProgram #LeadershipDevelopment #SystemsThinking #SocialImpact #SocialSectorIndia #PurposeDrivenLeadership #LeadershipForImpact #InstitutionBuilding

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Leadership Inspired – Edition 6 is here! 📘

The social sector is scaling faster than ever. But one question stays with us: what does it truly take to lead people, power, and purpose in a time of constant change?

Edition 6 is our most candid reflection yet on leadership development: what it demands, what it enables, and what it looks like when it is done well.

Highlights include:
- Sewa Bhaav: Reimagining Leadership for the Social Sector – Cover story on how the Piramal Foundation builds values into culture and leadership
- The First Year Matters – ILSS insights on leadership transitions and why that window is defining
- Alumni Spotlight – Leadership journeys of Garima Garg & Trupti Mulajkar Deshmukh (EWLP alumni)
- ILSS Conversation – Harish and Bina Shah on investing in leadership institutions
- Guest articles by Roopa Kudva, Vinita Gursahani Singh and WomenLead India Alliance
- Building an Alumni Movement – Five lessons from ILSS' growing 1,300+ alumni community
➕ Sector news, events, and more

📖 Read the full edition here: https://t.co/i5n2DY2Czs

Share with anyone who cares about building stronger leadership in India's social sector.

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Passion starts the fire and People Systems keep it burning.

The most powerful thing you can do for your mission is build an organisation that doesn't depend on any one person, including yourself!

At ILSS, that is exactly why we are relaunching the People Practices Program.

🔗 Applications close soon: https://t.co/aeRXztPZZI

#PeoplePractices #SocialImpactLeadership #InstitutionBuilding #YourPeopleisamission #impact

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

The future of impact lies at the intersection of capacity and capital.

The India Fundraising Conference 2026 brought together leaders, practitioners, and changemakers to explore what it takes to build stronger organisations, unlock sustainable resources, and reimagine fundraising for the sector’s next phase of growth.

From bold ideas and practical insights to honest conversations on what the sector needs next, here’s a glimpse into the energy, learning, and possibilities that shaped this year’s conference.

Watch the highlights from IFRC 2026: https://t.co/OjkkKbr9XY

Explore key insights from the conference in the IFRC 2026 Key Takeaways Report: https://t.co/qGjyjar9jq

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

⏰ Today is the final day.

Across the social sector, leaders are being asked to deliver more - often with limited resources, complex realities, and growing expectations.

Yet one question remains largely unaddressed:
Who is investing in the people who power this impact?

The ILSS People Practices Program is designed to respond to this gap - enabling leaders to embed people practices at the heart of organisational strategy, not at its margins.

It calls for a fundamental shift in how institutions are built:
- People-centred - placing people at the core of strategy and decision-making
- People-owned - fostering shared leadership, accountability, and agency
- People-sustained - strengthening systems and cultures that enable long-term resilience

And where access is a barrier, #scholarships are available to ensure that opportunity remains inclusive.
📣 Scholarship applications close today, 4 May 2026.

If you are building for scale, sustainability, and impact - this is a moment to act.
Apply now, or share this with someone who should.
🔗 Apply now: https://t.co/aeRXztPZZI

Write to Partha Dey at [email protected] to ask questions, understand the program in more depth, or schedule a one-on-one exploratory conversation with the ILSS team.

#PeoplePractices #SocialImpactLeadership #InstitutionBuilding #Culturecodebook #YourPeopleisamission #impact

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

When believers come together, #movements begin.

Advancing women’s leadership in the social sector is not the responsibility of women alone. It takes #funders, #allies, and #institutionbuilders who believe that stronger leadership creates stronger systems.

In this moment, voices from across the ecosystem come together to reflect on what it truly takes to #buildpathways, #enablestructures, and #investintentionally so women don’t just participate, but shape decisions and lead transformation at scale.

This is an invitation to move from conversation to commitment.
To fund.
To mentor.
To nominate.
To advocate.

Because when women lead, institutions grow stronger and impact runs deeper.
Applications are now open for The ILSS Emerging Women's Leadership Program.

Application deadline: 1 June 2026 (To avail scholarships, apply by 18 May 2026)
Apply here: https://t.co/IR2sK1Z26T

#EWLP #WomenLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #ILSS #LeadershipJourney #WomenInImpact

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Behind every thriving nonprofit is a leader who figured out the hardest part; not the mission, but the people.
- Hiring the right person.
- Keeping them engaged & motivated.
- Growing them.
- Building a culture they don't want to leave.
- Creating systems that outlast any one individual.

And yet, in the social sector, our conversations continue to focus largely on community, impact, and scale.

What often remains in the background is the quiet, complex work of building organisations where people can truly thrive.
But the #peoplelandscape in the social sector is changing rapidly.
#Talentexpectations are evolving. #Leadershippipelines remain thin. #Retention is becoming harder.

What was once important has now become critical for organisational sustainability.

Through our work with leaders across the sector, ILSS has come to believe that leadership capability cannot stand alone. It becomes transformative only when supported by thoughtful people practices, strong systems, and organisational rigor.

That is why we felt the need to intervene.

Introducing The ILSS People Practices Program -designed for nonprofit leaders who want to strengthen how their organisations hire, grow, engage, and retain talent.

More than a program, it is an effort to build a community of leaders who are collectively rethinking people practices in the social sector.

Because the mission is only as strong as the people carrying it.
Application deadline: 18 May 2026
Scholarship deadline: 4 May 2026

📩 Apply now: https://t.co/aeRXztPsaa

#AreYouInThe36Percent #TheGapIsGrowing #YouCantScaleAlone
#PeopleFirstLeadership #NotJustHR #DontLeaveItToChance
#PeoplePracticesNotPaperwork #BuildingPeopleLeaders
#ILSSPeoplePractices

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Over 25 editions of The ILSS Leadership Program, one insight has surfaced again and again.

For many leaders, engaging with the social sector is not just a role shift - it is an identity shift.

Today, our community of 500+ alumni is contributing to the sector in myriad ways - leading and strengthening organisations, shaping strategy and governance, supporting philanthropy, advising nonprofits, and building partnerships that drive social change across India.

If you feel the pull to contribute to the social sector but don’t know where to begin - this is your starting point.

Build sector understanding, strengthen your leadership, and learn alongside an extraordinary peer community.

Applications for upcoming cohorts are now open.

Cohort 26 (Delhi NCR): 22 – 30 May 2026 (9-day residential)
Cohort 27 (Bengaluru): 1 – 9 August 2026 (9-day residential)

Apply here: https://t.co/r035xwV9RJ

#LeadershipInTheSocialSector #NonprofitManagement #SystemsChange #OrganisationalLeadership #SocialChange #PurposeDrivenLeadership #SocialSectorIndia

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

What does a ‘career reset’ look like after 30 years of success?

For many senior professionals, with decades of experience behind them, the question isn’t about capability, it’s about direction.

The ILSS Leadership Program creates space for seasoned corporate leaders to take a step back from familiar momentum and think intentionally about contribution, impact and the next phase of their leadership.

Shalini Gupta, Co-founder and Partner at Ishwa Consulting and an alum of Cohort 25, put it this way:

'The Program opened up my eyes to the social sector in India, helped me understand how to best use my skills and experience both to see impact and to bring me a sense of fulfilment. I couldn't have asked for a better reset for myself after almost 3 decades in the corporate sector!'

Across 9 residential days, participants of the Program:
• interact with leaders running social organisations across sectors
• see how development challenges unfold beyond reports and dashboards
• understand career pathways, constraints and realities of the development ecosystem in the country
• and spend time interrogating their own motivations, assumptions and expectations

For Shalini, the program became that rare opportunity to pause and choose her next chapter deliberately.

If this question resonates with where you are in your career, we invite you to explore the Program! Applications for upcoming cohorts are now open: https://t.co/r035xwUC2b

#LeadershipInTheSocialSector #NonprofitManagement #SystemsChange

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Digital transformation is often misunderstood as adopting the latest technology.
But as Sanjeev Prasad reminded us, real transformation starts with clarity on the problem, not with picking up a technology.

When organisations first simplify processes, build people’s capabilities, and design strong data systems, technology becomes a true force multiplier. It amplifies what already works instead of automating broken processes.
Examples from Seva Mandir and Anudip Foundation show that disciplined, mission-aligned digital adoption leads to efficiency, accountability, and real impact.
Read his article and more here: https://t.co/eAtKXq0Y5P
This is exactly what The ILSS Digital Transformation for Social Impact Program is enabling by helping nonprofits build digital capacity and turn technology into a lever for stronger systems and better outcomes.

Learn more about the program here: https://t.co/AnlEgdtZDi
Application Deadline: 23 March 2026

#DigitalTransformation #SocialImpact #Leadership #Nonprofits #SystemsChange

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Last month, we graduated cohort 3 of The ILSS Digital Transformation for Social Impact, with sector leaders ready to take the next leap in their digital journeys across their respective organisations.

Over the course of the program, cohort members conceptualised a minimum viable product to address their organisational challenges, working at the intersection of systems thinking, user-centred design, and real-world implementation.

As we mark this milestone, we’re pleased to announce that applications for cohort 4 are now open.

We look forward to welcoming the next cohort of leaders committed to leveraging technology for social impact.

Learn more about the program here: https://t.co/AnlEgdtrNK

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Powering #IFRC2026: GivingTuesday

We are delighted to acknowledge the invaluable support of GivingTuesday India in bringing the India Fundraising Conference 2026 to life this February.
GivingTuesday is a global nonprofit dedicated to unleashing the power of radical generosity. Grounded in empathy, solidarity, and shared humanity, it works across communities and cultures to ensure generosity becomes part of everyday life—not just moments of giving, but a sustained force for social good.

At IFRC 2026, we recognise that meaningful and lasting impact depends on more than funding alone. It requires strong organisational capacity, trusted networks, and leadership that can nurture participation, belonging, and shared responsibility. GivingTuesday’s work—supporting networked leadership, storytelling, and the flow of human, financial, and social capital—reflects this ecosystem-wide approach to building impact.

We look forward to learning from and engaging with movements like GivingTuesday as we collectively explore how India’s social sector can build generosity that is inclusive, enduring, and transformative.

📅 Event Dates: 5–6 February 2026
📍 Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
Join us at #IFRC2026 for global insights, expert-led masterclasses, and timely conversations on strengthening organisational capacity and cultivating a culture of generosity across India’s social sector: https://t.co/oFUK1xgs2r

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

At IFRC, learning isn’t one-size-fits-all.

From big-picture conversations on the future of fundraising to hands-on masterclasses, IFRC brings together diverse session formats designed to meet you where you are.

Expect:
•⁠ ⁠Insightful panel discussions with sector leaders
•⁠ ⁠Deep-dive masterclasses focused on practical skills
•⁠ ⁠Peer learning spaces to exchange real experiences
•⁠ ⁠Conversations that challenge, inspire, and equip fundraisers for what’s next

Whether you’re rethinking strategy, sharpening your craft, or building new connections — there’s a session at IFRC for you.

See you at IFRC!
Dates: 5-6 February 2026
Register for IFRC 2026 here: https://t.co/oFUK1xgs2r

#FundraisingForImpact #ILSS #Changemakers
#CapacityCommunityCelebration

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

In this video, Russell Parera, Partner PwC India and alum of The ILSS Board Leadership Program, shares why he chose to join the program and what drew him towards engaging more deeply with the social sector.

For many leaders, the intent to contribute is clear, but the pathway is not. The Board Leadership Program offers a structured entry point to understand the sector, reflect on one’s role, and explore meaningful ways to engage beyond the corporate world in an advisory capacity.

Learn more about the program here: https://t.co/ZvyJKMz53U

Watch Russell speak about what prompted his decision to begin that journey.

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

#IWLCUpdates | Discover how to sustain your energy, deepen self-awareness, and reconnect with your purpose — so you can lead not just effectively, but authentically and with renewed vitality.

Leaders often push through pressure, deadlines, and burnout — but what truly sustains performance is wellbeing. Managing energy, motivation, and focus isn’t a luxury; it’s a leadership discipline.

At #IWLC 2025, Gagan Adlakha, transformational coach and Partner at Vyaktitva, will lead a powerful masterclass on the intersection of leadership and holistic wellbeing. The session will offer reflective practices, science-backed insights, and practical tools to help leaders nurture their emotional, mental, and physical resilience.

📍 Date - 28 November 2025
📍 Venue - India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Register Here: https://t.co/wWosX6XbCv

Limited Seats | First Come, First Serve!

#MindfulLeadership #SustainablePerformance #WellbeingAtWork #IWLC2025 #LeadershipUnbound #InspireEmpowerCatalys #SDG5InAction #VoicesOfCourage #ShapingEquitableFuture #LeadBeyondTitles #FutureisFemaleCatalysingChange

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Fast-paced. Visual. Impactful.

The Impact Spotlight at IWLC 2025 is where innovation meets inspiration.

In a dynamic Pecha Kucha format — 10 slides, 3 minutes, and countless ideas for change — organisations from across India will take the stage to share how they’re advancing gender equity and driving integrated social change across sectors such as education, health, livelihoods, disability inclusion, and climate action.

These are the stories of changemakers reimagining leadership, challenging boundaries, and creating systemic impact through locally rooted and collaborative solutions.

At ILSS, we see this Spotlight as more than just a showcase — it’s a celebration of leadership, collaboration, and the power of purpose-driven innovation. Together, we aim to spark new conversations, amplify learning, and inspire collective action towards a more inclusive and equitable India.

🌟 Join us at IWLC 2025 to witness the power of innovation in action and be inspired by changemakers driving India’s gender equity movement forward.

Register now 👉https://t.co/jixpA8ya72

📍 Date - 28 November 2025
📍 Venue - India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Limited Seats | First Come, First Serve!
#IWLC2025 #LeadershipUnbound #InspireEmpowerCatalys #SDG5InAction #VoicesOfCourage #ShapingEquitableFuture #LeadBeyondTitles #FutureisFemale

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

#IWLC2025 Updates | India Women's Leadership Conference 2025 brings together a day full of perspectives that explore the invisible, intergenerational, and intersectional lens of leadership — the kind we share, experience, and envision today.
At IWLC 2025, remarkable voices — Aakash Sethi, Pooja Sharma Goyal, Pooja Taparia, Rekha M Menon, Dr Ruha Shadab, Saurabh Nigam, Uthara Narayanan, and Yamini Atmavilas — will come together to shape conversations that are #bold, #layered, and deeply #human.

Join us to experience a day of #diverse formats, #unique focus, and nuanced #contexual leadership journeys that expand the dialogue and rewrite the narrative of leadership for present and the future.

Register now 👉https://t.co/jixpA8xChu

📍 Date - 28 November 2025

📍 Venue - India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Limited Seats | First Come, First Serve!
#IWLC2025 #LeadershipUnbound #InspireEmpowerCatalys #SDG5InAction #VoicesOfCourage #ShapingEquitableFuture #LeadBeyondTitles #FutureisFemale

[India Leaders for Social Sector @ILSS_Official]

Behind every social issue is a web of deeper, interconnected challenges.
To create lasting change, we must go beyond surface-level solutions. A systemic approach—one that sees the whole picture—is vital.

In this blog by Nuupur Mahajan (Associate Director, ILSS), we explore how real change demands:
✔ Stakeholder alignment
✔ Adaptability & flexibility
✔ Redefining success
✔ Purpose-driven leadership

Read the blog here: https://t.co/A90OjvFMeW

At ILSS, we believe in empowering leaders to navigate this complexity with heart, vision, and systemic thinking.

Join a powerful network of 1000+ alumni and 400+ organisations working to build a more just, equitable India.

Applications are open for The ILSS Leadership Program, learn more and apply:https://t.co/x1fiPa2hua

📅 8–16 August 2025 | 📍 Delhi NCR
Lead where India needs you the most.

#SystemicChange #SocialImpact #ILSSLeadership #PurposeDriven #Changemakers #SocialSector