FAQ
What is the purpose of the IDEX Fellowship?
The mission of the IDEX Fellows Program is to build a corps of next generation social sector leaders by fusing operational and financial skills with moral imagination to create solutions to global poverty and fill the talent gap. Each year, IDEX recruits highly talented and passionate young professionals to reflect on their role as leaders, build their leadership capacity, and provide much needed management support to our investees.
What prior experience must fellows have?
IDEX Fellows are drawn from a diverse pool of talented, passionate young professionals from all geographies, sectors, backgrounds, nationalities, religions and ages. Ideal Fellows have had experience traveling and/or living abroad and have a baseline understanding of social enterprise. Work experience is not required however fellows who understand business fundamentals are ideal.
Is the program only open to US citizens or do you welcome foreign applicants?
IDEX seeks fellows who will bring diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experience to create a dynamic team environment. We welcome applicants of any nationality.
Is there an age or education requirement for the program?
Fellows must be at least 21 years of age and while there is no age cap our fellows typically range between 21 and 25 years of age. A bachelor’s degree is required to be considered for IDEX however IDEX does not stipulate a specific major.
Can Fellows bring their spouse, partner and/or children to their overseas placement?
Fellows are permitted to bring family or loved ones overseas at their own expense and are responsible for making the appropriate travel and living arrangements themselves. Fellows that bring family members may not be eligible for IDEX housing accommodations due to space limitations. It should be noted that the program is intensive, time-consuming and requires significant commitment and flexibility. When in the field, access to Internet and phone systems will be available wherever possible, but applicants must expect that there may be times when frequent communication with family and friends may not be particularly accessible or affordable.
How can I apply for the fellowship?
Applications are accepted online at www.idexapp.com. Due to the volume of applications, we currently don’t accept mailed or faxed applications.
What does the online application for the Fellows Program entail?
There are five parts that constitute the initial application process for the Fellows Program
- Online Application
- Personal Profile Information
- Three professional references
- Short essay questions
- Statement of Interest (2 page max)
- Resume/CV
- College Transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
What stipend and other forms of support are provided during the fellowship? Does the program offer health insurance and visa assistance?
Fellows receive a monthly stipend that covers reasonable monthly living costs for the duration of the program. The stipend is designed to cover only costs associated and incurred during the program. You should not expect to save any money during this year or to use this stipend to cover previous expenses (e.g., student loans). After acceptance of the fellowship, fellows will either be provided with housing or provided with additional resources to secure housing. Stipend amounts will vary for the country placement portion of the Fellowship, adjusting for the cost of living in different countries, but these stipends are also designed to cover the basic costs associated with safe yet frugal living.
Travel to and from the field placement and costs associated with necessary visa arrangements will not be covered by IDEX and will be the responsibility of fellows. IDEX will also arrange for emergency medical insurance in case of an emergency (this does not cover basic medical needs).
While in the field, will there be regular travel back to my home city?
No. The field placement portion of the fellowship is ten intensive months, and frequent travel that is unrelated to placement work is not permitted. Each Fellow will be allowed to take a reasonable number of days off during their placement but must arrange all vacations with the enterprise and field manager.
What do Fellows do during their field assignments?
The Fellows Manager and IDEX management will support the Fellows and the enterprises investee in developing work plans by helping to identify priorities for the enterprise and key areas where the Fellow may add the most value. A few work plans in the past have included:
- Creating and financing libraries and language or computer labs
- Incorporating sports and arts to engage top students
- Introducing extracurricular programs
- Developing new revenue streams through supplemental educational services
- Implementing student attendance incentive programs
- Establishing vocational training programs
- Implementing and streamlining financial systems
- Planning and executing leadership conferences for school owners
In addition to their investee placements, Fellows are responsible for contributing to IDEXs efforts to collect and disseminate information from our work and presenting these insights in a shareable form with a broader audience via blogs, white papers, case studies, photo submissions, videos, etc.
What do Fellows do after completing the Fellows Program? What type of professional and personal development support does the fellowship offer?
IDEX makes a substantial investment of time and resources in our Fellows cohort, and an integral part of the program is offering each Fellow the opportunity for both personal and professional growth. The current members and alumni of the Fellows cohort provide a strong network of others with whom to learn and grow throughout the year.
After completing the fellowship, the vast majority of IDEX Alumni have continued to pursue careers that are in or directly impacting the social sector, ranging from continued work with social enterprises on the ground to starting up enterprises of their own. Fellows have built lasting relationships with each other and with Fellows alumni from previous classes, often collaborating on projects within the social enterprise space or pursuing joint ventures. IDEX’s management team also shares post-fellowship opportunities as they come along and works with Fellows, when possible, to achieve their post-fellowship goals.
