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KCDT at ILSS

The ILSS Digital Transformation for Social Impact Program Cohort 4

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The ILSS AI & Digital Transformation for Social Impact Program

India’s only capacity building program to enable nonprofit leaders adopt digital and AI holistically for their organisation and drive catalytic impact at scale

Craft your own digital transformation (DT) strategy contextualised for your beneficiaries, blended with sectoral and technology best practices:

  • Digital & AI skills – use-cases, tools, processes, critical success factors and risks
  • Live case studies by leading nonprofit: Best practices, success stories and challenges
  • Dedicated 1:1 mentoring by leading sectoral and technology experts to craft your DT strategy
  • Pitchfest - opportunity to win post-program DT funding, build and advisory support

Program Start Date: 23 April 2026

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Program Start Date

23 April 2026

Limited Seats · Cohort 4

Duration

10 Weeks

Format

Blended

Residential + Virtual

Program Fee

₹1,00,000 + GST

Limited Scholarships Available

Download Brochure

Discover The Why

India's Social Sector is at a Digital Inflection Point

The ILSS State of the Sector Report on Digital Transformation for Nonprofits in India, based on in-depth conversations with 40+ social purpose organisation leaders and 15+ sector experts, reveals a sector that recognises the urgency of digital transformation but lacks the structured support needed to act on it.

What the Research Reveals

State of the Sector Report on Digital Transformation for Nonprofits in India ILSS & Koita Foundation, 2024

already have a tech team, but many lack a digital transformation strategy.
0 67.5% nonprofit
say technology will be critical to program delivery in the next 3 years.
0 72.5% nonprofit
need better dashboards and reporting to drive decisions.
0 52.5% nonprofit
productivity gains are possible through effective digital transformation.
0 30-40% Alumni

Aligning Technology with Organisational Mission

Many nonprofits adopt digital tools without a clear strategic direction. The program helps leaders develop a digital transformation roadmap that aligns technology with their mission and impact goals.

Streamlining Operations for Greater Organisational Efficiency

Many nonprofits struggle to integrate digital tools across their workflows, resulting in duplicated effort and manual processes. The program helps organisations identify high-impact technologies to streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency.

Turning Data into Insights for Impact

While nonprofits collect large amounts of data, many struggle to translate it into meaningful insights. The program helps organisations build data systems and dashboards that support better decision-making, learning, and accountability.

Who Should Apply

Built for Leaders of Social Purpose Organisation

For CEOs, CTOs, co founders, and program directors of nonprofits and social purpose organisations whose organisations have been in existence for at least three years and have an annual budget of at least ₹3 crores.

Founders & Co-founders of Nonprofits

Looking to build a structured digital strategy, improve program delivery, and demonstrate technology-driven impact to funders and boards.

Executive Directors of SPOs

Leading social purpose organisations at scale and wanting to embed digital transformation as an organisational capability — not just a tech project.

CSR Heads & Foundation Leaders

Wanting to deploy AI for impact reporting, strengthen grantee partnerships, and make data-driven decisions on CSR investments.

CTOs & Technology Leads

Seeking to bridge the gap between technology capabilities and mission goals — and build DT strategies that get board and leadership buy-in.

Program Directors

Responsible for field delivery, M&E, and beneficiary outreach — eager to use digital tools and process automation to improve efficiency at scale.

Leaders of Social Purpose Organisations

At the growth stage, wanting to digitise operations and build scalable systems with a structured DT framework and peer network of sector leaders.

Program Introduction

See What the Digital Transformation for Social Impact Program Delivers

Watch The ILSS Digital Transformation for Social Impact Program introduction, and see how ILSS is empowering social purpose organisations across India to craft their own digital transformation journey and drive catalytic impact at scale.

The program aims to equip nonprofits with the tools and insights to navigate both “digital” and “transformation” effectively, empowering them to innovate, sustain, and scale their impact.

Anu Prasad

Founder-CEO, India Leaders for Social Sector

Leaders in the ILSS Alumni Community — from grassroots changemakers to leaders shaping the social sector.
0 1200+
Learn from subject matter experts on topics ranging from Data Based Storytelling to Generative AI for Social Impact and many more.
0 30 Program sessions
Program Start Date: 23 April 2026

Program Highlights

What Makes the Digital Transformation for Social Impact Program Unique in the Indian Social Sector

Designed for working nonprofit leaders, rigorous, cohort based, and immediately applicable to your organisation’s digital transformation journey.
10 Week blended learning journey designed for social sector leaders
12+ Real-world digital transformation case studies from leading nonprofits
1:1 Mentoring with sector and technology experts
Opportunity to win grants plus 6+ months of post-program digital transformation support
A personalised Digital Transformation roadmap for your organisation
1,000+ Access to the ILSS alumni network

Alumni Voices

What Program Participants Say

The DTSI program has been a journey of shifting perspectives—seeing technology not as an end but as a means to enable deeper, more human-centered change. Along the way, we discovered that true transformation is rooted not in systems, but in people: in understanding their realities, aspirations, and contexts. What began as a technical exploration evolved into a holistic understanding of how digital transformation transcends mere technological implementation. It challenged us to think beyond implementation and embrace leadership, empathy, and innovation. More than tools, it taught us the art of creating lasting, meaningful impact.
Prapti BhasinChief Operating Officer,
Aavishkaar Center
Prapti Bhasin
The DTSI Program has been a deeply transformative journey for both me and my organisation. Guided by my mentor, Varsha Varma, I gained new clarity on defining problems and structuring solutions. Engaging with experts across sectors broadened my understanding of digital strategy. I now carry a clearer roadmap for applying digital transformation to better serve our school leaders and students. Above all, the community-driven approach and ILSS team’s support made this experience both enriching and profoundly thought-provoking.
Kalyani KumarChief Information Officer,
Adhyayan Foundation
Kalyani Kumar
The ILSS Digital Transformation Program has proven to be an enriching experience. Over the past three months, we had the privilege of learning from leading experts who provided invaluable insights into their journeys and the rapidly evolving digital landscape. My mentor helped deepen my understanding and assisted in developing a structured roadmap for Concern India Foundation’s digital transformation journey. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to foster meaningful transformation in their workplace.
Manisha DesaiDirector,
Concern India Foundation
Manisha Desai
The program has been a transformative and thought-provoking experience for those of us in the development sector striving to harness the power of technology for scalable impact. Participants gain a comprehensive understanding of the concepts of "digital" and "transformation" and their application in the sector. Additionally, it provides critical insights into collaborating with government entities on technology-driven initiatives. Perhaps most importantly, participants benefit from the guidance of experienced mentors who help refine ideas into actionable, scalable, and impactful strategies.
Sharat GoswamiCofounder & Director,
Milaan Foundation
Sharat Goswami

Curricular Components

What You Will Learn

Six structured modules that take social sector leaders from understanding digital transformation to implementing it in their organisations.

Foundational Topics

Six structured modules that take participants from foundational understanding to live application, covering the full digital transformation lifecycle for social purpose organisations.
  • Transformation thinking for SPOs
  • Digital innovation in program delivery
  • Select and work with technology partners
  • Set technology budgets and infrastructure
  • Design implementation roadmaps
  • Operational excellence through technology
  • Managing organisational change
  • Addressing resistance to new systems
  • Ensuring data security and responsible technology adoption
  • Define the right transformation opportunity
  • Align digital initiatives with impact outcomes
  • Prioritise scalable, sustainable solutions
  • Use data for program insights and decision-making
  • Apply analytics and emerging AI tools
  • Design systems that generate actionable impact data
  • Drive team adoption of digital systems
  • Build internal digital capabilities
  • Sustain innovation and technology use across programs
  • Digital Transformation & Funding

Case Studies

Learn from India's Leading Social Purpose Organisations

Real world digital transformation journeys, best practices, and breakthrough moments shared directly by SPO and not for profit organisation leaders who have navigated this path and are building a more impactful, technology enabled social sector.
*Illustrative only. Actual case study organisations may vary per cohort.

Program Outcomes

What You Will Walk Away With

Deliver contextual outcomes and ensure ongoing momentum for digital transformation at your organisation.
  • Comprehensive understanding of Digital Transformation and its specific benefits for social purpose organisations in India
  • Learnings from sector leaders about the art of the possible, with real digital transformation journeys, failures, and breakthroughs shared by peer SPO leaders.
  • A cultivated digital transformation mindset and readiness to lead your organisation through technology change with confidence.
  • Knowledge of relevant tools, techniques, and processes across the full digital transformation lifecycle, from strategy through implementation and sustenance.
  • Deep knowledge of data and AI to drive impact effectively, including how to harness AI analytics, GenAI tools, and data infrastructure for your nonprofit.
  • A personalised digital transformation goal and roadmap for your organisation, crafted with mentor support and ready to execute.
  • A cohesive network of social sector leaders across India who continue to support one another post-program
  • Dedicated 1:1 mentoring throughout the program, with every participant assigned a sector or technology expert mentor who works with them weekly to shape their personalised digital transformation strategy.

Faculty & Mentors

India's Most Accomplished Digital Transformation & Social Sector Practitioners

Every faculty member and mentor is an active practitioner, real leaders who have built and deployed digital transformation in the Indian social sector context.

Akshay V

Founder and CEO

Edzola Technologies

Alok Gupta

Chief Product Officer

Ekstep Foundation

Anand Sharma

Founder

Radics Education

Anjali Hegde

Executive Director

Udayan Care

Arti B Jain

Doctoral Researcher

SPJIMR Mumbai & Lead Partner, SVP India

Debleena Majumdar

CoFounder

Kahaniyah

Deepa Gopalakrishnan Sundar

Head - Sandbox Grants

EdelGive Foundation

Hareesh Tibrewala

Co-founder and Board Member

Mirum India

Jayant Rastogi

Global CEO

Magic Bus

Krishna Kumar

CEO

GreenPepper + AI

Manmeet Singh

Digital Public Goods/Infrastructure

Evangelist

Poonam Choksi

Vertical Head - Social Sector Capacity-Building

A.T.E. Chandra Foundation

Puneet Kapoor

Ex-President & Head of Distribution

Kotak Mahindra Bank

Ramesh Padmanabhan

CEO

Armman

Rekha Koita

Co-founder

Koita Foundation
Rizwan Koita

Rizwan Koita

Chairman, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH)

Co-founder, Koita Foundation

Sanjay Purohit

CEO and Chief Curator

Centre for Exponential Change

Sanjeev Prasad

Senior Business Adviser

Coforge

Savita Muley

Chief Product Officer

Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions

Shankar Maruwada

Co-founder and CEO

EkStep Foundation

Shruthi Iyer

Co-founder and CEO

Foundation for Mother and Child Health - India

Srivathsan Ramaswamy

Co-Founder & Chief Programme Officer

Madhi Foundation

Sutanuka Ghosh

Senior Director - Better World Initiative

Genpact

Swapnil Agarwal

Co-founder

Dhwani Rural Information Systems Ltd

Uma Kogekar

Chief Executive Officer

Centre for Equity and Quality in Universal Education - CEQUE
…. and 10+ more sector leaders and technology experts as mentors

65

+

Nonprofit & Social Purpose Organisation Leaders across 3 Cohorts

Education

Health

Climate

Livelihoods

Gender

Rural Development

Civic Tech

PAST COHORTS

Leaders Who Have Already Made This Journey

Three cohorts in. Here is who has been part of India’s only structured digital transformation program for the social sector.

Role Diversity

  • Founders, CEOs and Executive Directors
  • Chief Operating Officers and Operations Leaders
  • Technology and Digital Transformation Leaders
  • Program, Impact and MEL Leaders

What This Program Delivers

Four Dimensions of Digital Transformation Capability

Rooted in ILSS’s 2023 State of the Sector report, the program is designed to close the four most critical gaps in how social sector organisations engage with technology.

Strategy

Turning Technology Adoption into a Digital Transformation Strategy
Many organisations adopt technology tools without anchoring them in their mission or long-term organisational goals. This often leads to fragmented systems and limited impact.
What the program enables
  • Develop a clear digital transformation roadmap
  • Align technology investments with program and impact goals
  • Build leadership capability to prioritise and govern digital initiatives

Digital Program Delivery

Preparing Organisations for Technology-Enabled Programs
As organisations expand their reach, technology will increasingly shape how programs are delivered, monitored, and scaled. However, many leaders lack the frameworks to integrate digital solutions effectively.
What the program enables
  • Reimagine program delivery using digital tools
  • Learn from real-world technology-enabled non-profit models
  • Identify scalable digital solutions for social impact

Data & Decision-Making

Building Data Systems for Better Decisions and Accountability
While many nonprofits collect large amounts of data, they often lack systems that transform this data into meaningful insights for program improvement and funder reporting.
What the program enables
  • Design data systems and dashboards for impact tracking
  • Strengthen data-driven decision-making across teams
  • Improve reporting, monitoring, and evaluation through technology

Productivity & Organisational Efficiency

Unlocking the Productivity Potential of Digital Transformation
Despite this potential, many organisations struggle to integrate digital tools across workflows, resulting in duplicated effort and manual processes.
What the program enables
  • Identify high-impact digital tools for operations and collaboration
  • Streamline internal workflows and processes
  • Build systems that scale organisational capacity and efficiency

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions from Social Sector Leaders Like You

The Program will run in a blended format for 10 weeks as follows:
  • In-person components in Delhi-NCR from 23 Apr to 26 Apr 2026 and 02 Jul to 04 Jul 2026
  • 8 weeks of online learning and mentoring from 09 May to 27 Jun 2026
The general guideline for expected time commitment:
  • In-person sessions: 8 hours per day, for 6 days
  • Virtual sessions: 4 hours per week, for 8 weeks
  • Virtual mentoring and cohort connects: 2-3 hours per week, for 8 weeks

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Admission Process:
  • Complete and submit the application form.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a virtual interview.
  • Candidates approved by the interview panel will undergo a scholarship assessment. The final offer letter will be issued accordingly.
  • Your organisation has been in existence for at least 3 years.
  • Your organisation has an annual budget of at least 3 crores.
The fee for the program is 1 Lakh INR (+ GST). Merit & need-based scholarships are available.
The fee covers the accommodation, on a full-board basis, during the in-person days. Cost of travel has to be borne by the participant.
Once your candidature has been confirmed, we will share the bank payment details with you to pay the fee.
Yes, merit & need-based scholarships are available.
Having a technology background is not necessary for this program. What is important is that you bring leadership and management experience, as the program focuses on helping leaders make informed decisions about using digital systems within their organisations.
  • Structured digital strategy (beyond tool experimentation).
  • Leadership alignment across programs, operations & data.
  • Personalised mentorship to build your organisation’s digital blueprint.
Mentoring is one of the most distinctive features of this program. Here is how it works:
Most digital transformation programs in India are designed for corporate professionals in banking, FMCG, or IT. The ILSS Digital Transformation for Social Impact Program is the only structured program built specifically for social purpose organisations in India, and it differs in three fundamental ways:

Ready to Lead Your Organisation's Digital Transformation?

Join Cohort 4 of India’s most practitioner-driven digital transformation program for social sector leaders. Program Start Date: 23 April 2026
Start Your Application
Download Program Brochure
For queries: Unsure if the program is for you, talk to our counsellors to know more about the program
Payel Mohanto · [email protected] · +91 9073387180, Jeanie Basumatary · [email protected] · +91 7433052203
© 2026 India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS) · Koita Centre for Digital Transformation (KCDT)