FAQS

FYL platform is designed with a vision to spark the transformational power of youth leadership across South Asia. This initiative is focused on building the field of youth leadership, starting with India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, and aims to strengthen youth leadership holistically.

The FYL platform is developed to be both for and by the development sector, taking a participatory approach that engaged a wide range of stakeholders in shaping FYL’s value proposition, priorities, change model, implementation, as well as branding strategy – especially young leaders across India, Nepal and Bangladesh to begin with. In its pilot phase, a key supporter has been the David and Lucile Packard Foundation with Dasra playing the role of a facilitator of this initiative. Looking ahead, the FYL platform is open to expanding through collaborations with additional funders and stakeholders.

Stakeholders interested in collaborating with the FYL platform are encouraged to contact info@foryouthleadership.com for more information on how to get involved.

As part of the FYL platform, the FYL fund aims to provide flexible funding support to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) focused on youth leadership in a ‘boundless way’. By 'boundless,' we mean creating accessibility for applicants to the FYL Fund, without boundaries based on sector, geography, target audience, or the type of NGO (including size, operating structure, or leadership model).

For the pilot round, the FYL Fund aims to support NGOs with a clear focus on youth leadership, regardless of the other factors mentioned earlier. The FYL Fund enables this while ensuring compliance with necessary legal, tax, and funding guidelines.

Implemented through participatory grant-making, the FYL Fund aims to shift traditional power dynamics by creating flexibility and freedom for NGOs to use funding resources in ways that best support their growth and resilience. It is designed to foster equity in the relationship between the funder and NGOs.

For the FYL platform, youth are defined as individuals aged 18 to 35, recognizing that those from marginalized backgrounds may have limited or lower access to leadership opportunities at younger ages.

Leadership is a trait and a capability, not necessarily tied to formal authority or positions. We recognize that youth leadership is diverse, context-specific, and non-linear, and can manifest in various forms.

For FYL, youth leadership is classified into two main themes, noting significant overlaps between them.

1. The youth leader as someone who catalyses change and enables their communities: Youth leadership as bringing people together and capacitating others around them as well as building and enabling voice, and when need be, making space for others who need to be heard.

2. Youth leadership as a transformative practice: Youth leadership as a transformative process for the leader through which they discover themselves and their people, and claim freedom and agency to participate in meaningful decision making at all levels through mutually respectful partnerships and shared power with adult allies, thus centering co-leadership, co-ownership and co-creation of processes, programmes and agendas amongst young leaders and other stakeholders.

In the FYL design phase, our participatory process was rooted in collaboration, ensuring that FYL's design reflected the voices and needs of the sector and was shaped by those it seeks to serve. We began by understanding the youth leadership landscape to define youth leadership and identify emerging needs in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. This initial research was followed by 14 exploratory discussions with young people, youth leaders, intermediaries, and regional experts to gather diverse insights.

Building on these early insights, we expanded our approach to include over 40 in-depth conversations with a wide range of stakeholder groups. These included young people, youth leaders, youth-focused and youth-led Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), youth networks and coalitions, multilateral organizations, intermediaries, funders, and global funds.

These sectoral conversations and workshops shaped FYL’s value proposition, priorities, change model, implementation, as well as branding strategy. We incorporated feedback from these groups to refine our approach and we also made a conscious effort to close the loop with stakeholder groups, regularly updating them on the progress and development of FYL.

For the upcoming FYL cohort selection process, we intend for a participatory and equitable approach. The proposed selection panel will comprise a mix of youth leaders (from relevant countries), sector-specific or theme-focused experts (aligned with the applicant’s focus), and South Asian youth leadership advisors. Majority of these individuals would have been involved in shaping FYL’s strategy from its inception, ensuring they are well-acquainted with FYL’s core values and objectives as they participate in the selection of the first cohort.

We aim to create an equitable environment, maintaining a balance of power and fostering a safe, collaborative environment for both youth and adults. Additionally, the final selection will be based on an evaluation criteria and guideline that will be co-developed with the selection panel, ensuring transparency, shared decision-making, and alignment with FYL’s values throughout the process.

This is foreign funding that is flexible in nature. FYL Fund is designed to provide Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) access to needs-based capital, allowing NGOs to propose how best to utilize the grant. The intention behind this grant is to create more flexibility and agency, enabling NGOs in a way that is potentially transformational, based on their specific needs.

For the second round, the FYL Fund is open to organizations that are legally registered and operating in India, Nepal, or Bangladesh, and can receive foreign funding.

For the 2025 second cohort round, the FYL Fund is offering grants of up to $30,000 per organization. The exact grant amount will be determined collaboratively with each shortlisted applicant, considering their specific project or organizational needs and goals. This will be a one-time grant with a duration of up to two years.

For this round, FYL has no specific focus on sectors or themes or a type of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – apart from a clear focus on youth leadership.

FYL fund is open to accepting applications from organizations focused on youth leadership, regardless of their size—whether small, medium, or large—and across all sectors, including Sexual and Reproductive Health, Gender Equality, Education, Health, Environment or cross-sectoral initiatives. We support organizations regardless of their location within India, Nepal, or Bangladesh, whether they operate in urban or rural areas, and at any stage of development, from pilot initiatives to fully scaled programs.

No. Organizations already selected as part of the first cohort are not eligible to reapply. This is to ensure the Fund supports a wider set of organizations and strengthens the youth leadership ecosystem across South Asia

Yes. Organizations that applied previously but were not selected are welcome to reapply with a fresh application. We encourage you to build on any feedback received or refine your proposal to better align with FYL’s priorities.

The FYL Fund specifically supports organizations that work to develop youth agency and leadership. If your organization’s programs do not focus on youth, this fund may not be the best fit. We encourage you to explore other opportunities aligned with your focus and to stay connected for future initiatives that may be relevant.

No, thanks for considering a joint application. However, applications need to be submitted by a single organization. This helps keep the process simple and ensures equitable distribution of funds across all applicants.

To ensure FYL values, mission, and vision are effectively communicated, we invite you to an online information webinar with Q&A session. During this session, we will provide detailed insights into the FYL platform, FYL Fund, including the application process and the information we need.

Please refer to the website and our social media handles for updates. If you have missed a session, please contact us at info@foryouthleadership.com.

One of the factors that we will look at in the initial shortlisting Is compliance with legal requirements. While our team will be looking at all the responses to the application closely, in this first round, we will be focusing on alignment with FYL’s values and mission. We seek partners who share the following values:

• Youth Leadership First Approach: Organizations must prioritize youth leadership, placing it at the core of their mission, regardless of sector or thematic focus.
• Intersectionality: Organizations must recognize the diverse identities and experiences of young people, using an intersectional lens to address complex issues, supported by evidence-based approaches.
• Equity and Inclusivity: Organizations must design systems that shift power dynamics by applying an equity and inclusivity lens, engaging youth in decision-making, valuing their voices, and fostering inclusive environments.
• For the final selection round, an external panel, as mentioned above, would be co-deciding the selection criteria and guideline to select the final applicants.

Informational webinar will support the applicants to gain more information on the eligibility guideline and determine if FYL is the right fit for them

For the second round, from all the applications received across the region, the FYL team will shortlist up to 20 for the final evaluation by the external selection panel. The initial shortlisting will be based on key factors mentioned above. Informational webinars will support the applicants to determine if FYL is the right fit for them.

In the second phase, FYL team will provide hands-on support to these selected organizations, helping them co-develop tailored proposals and budgets that reflect their real needs. Through ongoing discussions, we will ensure that the grants are thoughtfully designed to address the specific circumstances of each organization. The final proposals will be reviewed by an external selection panel of young leaders and sectoral thought leaders from South Asia, following a participatory and equitable process. This panel will also co-decide a selection criteria and guidelines to help them shortlist the finalists from the applicant pool.

• Organisations without valid or relevant registration to receive foreign funding (FCRA in India, Social Welfare Council Registration in Nepal and NGO Bureau registration in Bangladesh)
• Political campaigns or entities with strong political affiliations or religious institutions
• For-profit ventures or for-profit social enterprises
• Direct financial support to individual youth leaders, such as through scholarships, educational opportunities, or fellowships
• Financial support to non-government organizations to undertake any capital expenditures to acquire, upgrade, or maintain any physical assets

Due to the comprehensive nature of our participatory process, we anticipate that the second cohort will be announced around March/April 2026, with grant disbursements to follow shortly thereafter. (These timelines are subject to change, but we will keep all partners informed as we go through the process)

Currently, the FYL Fund is focused on supporting organizations that are legally registered non-governmental organizations and operating in India, Nepal, or Bangladesh. While we recognize the broader need for youth leadership initiatives across South Asia, our current pilot phase is limited to these three countries. We hope to expand our geographic scope in the future, so we encourage you to stay connected with us for updates on future opportunities. Please write to us about your organization at info@foryouthleadership.com

If you would like support in your language, we are happy to arrange a translator/provide translated copies of forms. Please email us at info@foryouthleadership.com to request the same.

The application process will take place in three stages: 

Stage I – Application Submission

Organizations are invited to submit their application form.

Stage II – Shortlisting and Jury Presentation:

Shortlisted organizations will be invited to submit a detailed proposal and present it to a jury. 

Stage III – Selection and Disbursement:

The final cohort of selected organizations will be announced.  

Undertaking the entire selection process in a comprehensive and participatory manner can take ~6 months. However, these timelines are subject to change, and we aim to keep all partners informed as we go through the process.

Due diligence and grant disbursements will follow soon after and will depend on country-specific rules and regulations.

Please write to us with any queries at info@foryouthleadership.com