Governance for Social Impact

Increase your knowledge, skills and confidence to make a more valuable contribution as a not-for-profit board member.

“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.”

Course snapshot:

• Type of course: Board directors course and governance training
• Who should attend: Not-for-profit board members
• Delivered: Online, in-person and custom training options

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.

“This governance training program is world leading in equipping board members to help their organisation live its mission.”

What makes this Governance training unique?

Upcoming course dates & flexible delivery options

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

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.

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

Learn alongside equally passionate peers

Whether you choose in-person or online learning, the Governance for Social Impact course 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.

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 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.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT

Advance your leadership and hold purpose at the centre of governance. Join the Governance for Social Impact course to strengthen your board's ability to drive both impact and performance, and make a meaningful difference to the people and communities you serve.

JOIN AN UPCOMING ONLINE COURSE

• June 2025: 3 - 24 June (Tuesday evenings, 5.30pm - 7.00pm AEST)
• October 2025: 16 October - 6 November (Thursday afternoons, 12.30pm - 2.00pm AEST)

LEARN MORE

EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST FOR IN-PERSON TRAINING

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.

GET IN TOUCH FOR TAILORED TRAINING OPTIONS

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.