Governance for Social Impact
Over 100 Fully Funded Scholarships for Not-for-Profit Board Directors
“This course is absolutely brilliant and should be mandatory for all for-purpose leaders. The content is useful, informative, interesting and critical if you lead or govern for social impact.”
Free online information session | 5 March 2026
Are you a board director of a registered charity looking to lift your governance practice and strengthen your organisation’s impact?
For the first time, with the support of the Minderoo Foundation, the Centre for Social Impact is offering more than 100 fully funded scholarships (each valued at over $2,000) for board directors of registered charities to complete our highly regarded Governance for Social Impact course in 2026.
These scholarships represent the first phase of a national partnership, which will ultimately support more than 400 board directors across Australia to access transformative governance training.
Successful scholarship recipients will secure a place in one of six virtual short courses to be delivered this year, joining a cohort of purpose-driven board directors committed to elevating governance practice across the charitable sector.
Want to know more? Register for the free webinar.
REGISTER NOW
Increase your knowledge, skills and confidence to make a more valuable contribution as a not-for-profit board member
Course snapshot:
- Type of course: Board directors course and governance training
- Who should attend: Not-for-profit board members
- Delivery: Online (virtual cohorts), with in-person and custom training options available
- Scholarships: Over 100 fully funded places available in 2026
Consistently praised for its transformational impact, the Governance for Social Impact course equips not-for-profit board members with the tools and strategies to effectively govern for deepened and scaled social impact.
In this course, you will move beyond your basic fiduciary responsibilities to develop more systems-aware, mission-focused and beneficiary-centric leadership skills.
Through hands-on, evidence-based training, you will gain the confidence to navigate complex governance challenges and enhance your ability to deliver positive outcomes for the people and communities you are striving to help.
Thanks to the generosity of the Minderoo Foundation, in 2026 108 full scholarships are available, meaning there is no course fee for successful applicants.
“This governance training program is world leading in equipping board members to help their organisation live its mission.”
Find out more
Register for the free webinar to learn how you, or a fellow director, can access a fully funded place in this transformative governance course.
Webinar details
Date: 5 March 2026
Time: 2:00–2:45pm AEDT (Sydney time)
Cost: Free
REGISTER NOW
What makes this Governance training unique?
Upcoming course dates & flexible delivery options
Online | 2026 dates to be annouced soon. Over 100 scholarships available. |
In-person | In-person courses currently run based on demand. Share your details and preferred training location to help bring a 2-day workshop to your state. |
Custom | We also offer tailored training options to suit the needs of your organisation. Please get in touch at csinational@unsw.edu.au to find out more. |
Trusted by Australia’s for-purpose leaders
Impact & Effectiveness
+900
Not-for-profit Board members and leaders have attended this short course
98%
Said it made them more effective social purpose leaders 85 NPS
Consistently achieves a world-class Net Promotor score of over 85.
+900 | Not-for-profit Board members and leaders have attended this short course |
98% | Said it made them more effective social purpose leaders |
85 NPS | Consistently achieves a world-class Net Promotor score of over 85. |
Interactive learning addressing real-world challenges
To help you better understand the intricacies that social impact brings to your role as a board member, we will:
- immerse you in real-world situations
- unpack best practice governance examples and case studies
- problem solve around your needs
- explore opportunities to deepen your work
- challenge traditional board approaches
In this confidential environment, you will also have a unique opportunity to:
- tap into peer insights, wisdom and lived-experience
- receive and provide strategic support, advice and guidance
- grow professionally and personally to help make an impact on the world
What you will gain
Guided by our highly credentialed presenters, you’ll benefit from:
- a board directors course 100% focused on the needs of not-for-profit leaders
- practical and proven frameworks and processes
- small group sizes with tailored content and delivery
- candid and confidential peer discussions
- being part of a network of like-minded alumni
What you will learn
You will learn about:
- effectively governing in a complex social ecosystem
- systems and tools to create change in your organisation
- what it means to govern with a ‘mission-first’ agenda
- the role of boards in optimising strategy for social impact
- exercising effective leadership while governing for impact
- achieving mission by measuring what matters most, for the people who matter most
Acquire the tools, knowledge, and skills to:
- evaluate and use social, financial, and mission-aligned business models
- identify key people, trends, and strategies to drive better outcomes for beneficiaries
- shape your mission around performance, social impact, and beneficiary needs
- measure your social impact uplift
Join the webinar to discover how you can apply for a fully-funded scholarship.
Unrivalled presenter credibility and experience
Governance for Social Impact is delivered by highly credentialed facilitators with extensive experience leading and working in the non-profit sector. These experts guide participants through real-world scenarios, helping them build practical governance skills to drive social impact.
Learn alongside equally passionate peers
Whether you choose a bespoke in-person course or online learning, Governance for Social Impact provides a unique opportunity to meet, learn from, and collaborate with other mission-led board members and senior executives from across the Australian not-for-profit sector, including:
- not-for-profit’s and charities of all sizes
- social enterprises
- philanthropic organisations
- corporate foundations.
You’ll be part of a tight-knit community of purpose-driven leaders who understand you, your challenges and your goals. And, like you, want to make a real difference in the world.
Scholarships are now available for online learning. Find out more in the free webinar on 5 March 2026.
Why impact-led governance training is essential for purpose-driven boards
Charities, not-for-profits, and the wider for-purpose sector are critical to Australia’s society and economy. However, declining donor dollars, increasing competition, government reforms, thin margins, and public scrutiny make serving beneficiaries more challenging than ever. As a not-for-profit board member or senior executive, it raises some big questions:
- What are the most effective ways to successfully navigate mounting challenges?
- How do we lift our gaze beyond performance-based targets to achieve impact-based outcomes?
- What levers need to be pulled to create a ripple effect for the greatest impact?
- How do we make a measurable impact in areas aligned to our purpose?
- How can we develop strong systems while keeping beneficiaries at the centre of everything we do?
This short course is designed to equip board members with practical strategies to address these questions and more. By participating, you’ll gain valuable insights that empower you to lead with confidence, ensuring your organisation remains purpose-driven and resilient in the face of challenges.
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR
The Governance for Social Impact short course will strengthen your board's ability to drive both impact and performance, and make a meaningful difference to the people and communities you serve. Learn how to apply for a scholarship so you can advance your practice at no cost.