Governance for Social Impact
| PURCHASE YOUR SEAT For individuals or organisations with the capacity to invest in professional development, a limited number of self‑funded places are available in the Governance for Social Impact short course. | APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP Scholarship applications are now open for board directors of registered charities looking to lift their governance practice and strengthen their organisation’s impact. |
Course snapshot
Type of course: Short course on impact-led governance
Who should attend: Not-for-profit board members
Delivery: Virtual delivery over 4 weeks
Scholarships: Over 100 fully funded places available in 2026
Course duration: Approximately 15 hours of learning delivered over four weeks. Includes 4 x 90 minute virtual workshops + self-paced learning
Course dates: Six virtual cohorts will be delivered in 2026. See below for more details.
“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.”
Governance for Social Impact Scholarships
Scholarship applications are now open for board directors of registered charities looking to lift their governance practice and strengthen their organisation’s impact.
For the first time, with the support of Minderoo Foundation, the Centre for Social Impact is offering 108 fully funded scholarships (each valued at $2,200) for board directors of registered charities to complete our highly regarded Governance for Social Impact course in 2026.
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 in their organisations and across the charitable sector.
Applications close 22 March 2026.
About the scholarships
Successful applicants will receive a fully funded place (valued at $2,200) in one of six online cohorts running between May and December 2026. As a scholarship recipient, you will have access to:
- Four live 90-minute virtual sessions facilitated by for-purpose governance experts
- Self-paced learning between sessions, including curated readings, case studies and guided reflection
- A carefully sized cohort designed to support candid peer exchange on governance practice under Chatham House Rule
Are you eligible to apply for a board director scholarship?
To apply for a scholarship, applicants must:
- Be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.
- Be a current board director of a registered Australian charity.
- Be able to attend all four live online sessions of your allocated cohort.
If you or your organisation have the capacity to self-fund — or if you require a guaranteed place in a specific cohort — a small number of paid places are also available.
2026 Course Dates
To accommodate busy board schedules, Governance for Social Impact will run across six online cohorts in 2026.
May Cohort | Tuesdays 4:30-6:00pm (AEST) |
June Cohort | Tuesdays 12:00-1:30pm (AEST) |
July Cohort | Tuesdays 12:00-1:30pm (AEST) |
August Cohort | Mondays 4:30-6:00pm (AEST) |
September Cohort | Tuesdays 5:00-6:30pm (AEST) |
November Cohort | Wednesdays 5:00-6:30pm (AEST) |
Still have questions about the Governance for Social Impact short course, or the new scholarships? Visit our FAQ page for quick answers to the most common enquiries.
Elevate your contribution as a board member
Consistently praised for its transformational impact, the Governance for Social Impact course equips not-for-profit board members with the knowledge and tools to effectively govern for deepened and scaled social impact.
This course supports you to expand your governance lens beyond fiduciary oversight, developing more systems-aware, mission-focused and beneficiary-centred approaches to leadership.
“This governance training program is world leading in equipping board members to help their organisation live its mission.
Impact & Effectiveness
+1,000
Not-for-profit Board members and leaders have attended this short course
99%
Said it made them more effective social purpose leaders World Class
We repeatedly earn Net Promotor Scores which are evaluated as world class
+1,000 | Not-for-profit Board members and leaders have attended this short course |
99% | Said it made them more effective social purpose leaders |
World Class | We repeatedly earn Net Promotor Scores which are evaluated as world class |
What you will gain
Guided by a faculty of experienced not-for-profit leaders, you will benefit from:
- a course designed specifically for not-for-profit board directors
- small group sizes with tailored content and delivery
- candid and confidential peer discussions
- practical frameworks and tools
- being part of a network of like-minded alumni
What you will learn
In this immersive short course, you will learn about:
- developing systems-awareness to more effectively govern in a complex social ecosystem
- what it means to govern with a ‘mission-first’ agenda
- the role of boards in optimising strategy for social impact
- achieving mission by measuring what matters most, for the people who matter most
Explore the course content
An expert faculty grounded in real-world governance
The Governance for Social Impact short course is facilitated by practising not-for-profit CEOs and board directors who bring deep, real-world experience to the learning environment. Drawing on their leadership across boards and organisations, they guide participants through practical scenarios and candid discussions, supporting the development of governance approaches that strengthen mission and impact.
APPLY FOR A BOARD DIRECTOR SCHOLARSHIP
This virtual course supports board directors to look beyond fiduciary responsibilities and focus on impact-led governance — shaping strategy, culture and decisions around meaningful outcomes for the people and communities your organisation exists to serve.
Scholarships are now available for online learning. Apply for a fully funded scholarship and advance your governance practice at no cost.
These scholarships are designed to support board directors and organisations who may not otherwise have access to this opportunity. If you or your organisation have the capacity to self-fund — or if you require a guaranteed place in a specific cohort — a small number of paid places are also available.