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Governance for Social Impact Scholarships 2026
Thanks to a multi-year partnership between the Centre for Social Impact and Minderoo Foundation, 108 fully funded scholarships are available in 2026 for current charity board directors to undertake the Governance for Social Impact course.
Across Australia, most not-for-profit directors serve in a voluntary capacity, and many organisations face financial constraints that limit access to professional development. These scholarships aim to increase access to high-quality governance training for directors who might otherwise miss out.
Governance for Social Impact helps directors move beyond compliance-focused oversight toward more mission-driven, impact and systems-oriented governance.
Applications open 5 March and close 22 March 2026.
A transformational governance course for social-purpose board members, delivered entirely online.
Fit learning around your schedule with our interactive online platform, featuring expert-led modules, engaging discussions, and real-world case studies.
The course includes four live workshops which provide an opportunity to discuss the self-paced content with like-minded leaders. Benefit from deep peer learning and a community of practice so you can make a lasting impact in your communities and beyond.
"Governance for Social Impact means a difference in people's lives"
What you will learn
Moving beyond the essential legal and financial responsibilities of board directors, this virtual course will provide an examination of the importance of governance to achieve maximum social impact for the communities your organisation seeks to help.
You will learn what it means to govern with a ‘mission-first’ agenda and be provided with the knowledge and tools to navigate the social purpose ecosystem. It will empower you to 'lift your gaze' to lead effective social impact governance.
You will learn about:
- Effectively governing in a complex social ecosystem
- Understanding different types of problems and applying a systems approach to ‘wicked problems’
- Understanding what it means to govern with a 'mission-first' agenda
- The role of boards in optimising strategy for social impact
- Measuring what matters most, for the people who matter most
- Exercising effective leadership while governing for impact
Time commitment
Approximately 10 hours of online learning which includes:
- Onboarding and an introduction to the learning platform
- Pre-reading
- 9 x 30 minute e-learning modules
- 4 x 90 minute live online workshops
| WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 |
Rethinking Governance | Systems Leadership | Mission-led Leadership | Leadership & Performance |
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