The Giving Academy

“The Giving Academy course was the most immersive learning experience I have had in my 10+ years in the philanthropic sector.”

JOIN THE WAITLIST

• Course type: Short course | Philanthropic professional development and training
• Delivery: Online | Hybrid | Custom
  (Hybrid option includes online, in-person and a cohort dinner)
• Duration: Approximately 21 hours of learning delivered over several weeks
• Who should attend: Philanthropic practitioners | Foundation staff | Family offices | Trustees and board members | Wealth holders | Philanthropic advisors and intermediaries | Not-for-profit organisations and grant seekers wanting deeper insight into how philanthropy works

The Giving Academy is Australia’s flagship learning program for the philanthropic ecosystem. Created hand-in-hand with sector leaders, these immersive short courses set a new benchmark for practical, real-world education for philanthropy.  At its heart, The Giving Academy is committed to uplifting philanthropic practice across Australia. 

 Through The Giving Academy, you will engage with leading global and local thinking, frontline challenges and peer perspectives to deepen judgement, test assumptions and apply insights directly to your work. The result is a more effective use of philanthropic resources nationwide, with enduring benefit for communities and causes.

 After receiving outstanding feedback from its pilot program, The Giving Academy is now opening to the public for the first time. If you are committed to advancing Australian philanthropy, this is a rare opportunity to learn alongside peers, deepen capability and be part of a national effort to lift the standard of giving - thoughtfully, strategically and with lasting impact.

“This was a thoughtful and meaningful program – stretching, challenging and sometimes a little confronting but only in ways that spark growth. This course is an absolute must for all working to improve philanthropic practice!”

Philanthropy, done better

Philanthropy requires more than good intentions. It carries great responsibility for people, communities and futures. That’s precisely the challenge and the opportunity The Giving Academy is designed to meet.

This program is tailormade for the diverse roles and experiences you bring to philanthropy. You can choose from two closely connected short courses that speak directly to where you are now, or if you are a funder complete both as part of an integrated learning journey.

SHORT COURSE: Effective Giving

This immersive and highly practical course is open to anyone in the philanthropic ecosystem – from funders to grant seekers and advisors – and equips you with practical, evidence-informed frameworks to make strategic decisions about your philanthropy. You will develop a personal giving roadmap that moves beyond reactive donations to thoughtful, strategic and intentional giving. You will learn how to align your giving with your values and goals, assess organisational effectiveness and understand what creates lasting change for generations to come.

SHORT COURSE: Giving in Complexity

This course is for those that have come to the realisation that social, environmental and economic challenges don’t exist in isolation but are interconnected, dynamic and resist simple solutions. This course helps funders and philanthropists develop the mindset and tools needed to work effectively in complex adaptive systems when the path forward is unclear. Grounded in proven frameworks and action-learning, you will learn to navigate uncertainty, support community-led initiatives and collaborate across sectors to address root causes rather than symptoms. If you're ready to challenge conventional approaches and develop strategies for catalysing transformational change in the face of complexity, this is the learning journey to take you there.

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN

Across the two Giving Academy courses, you will:

• Define an approach to giving that reflects your values and the impact you want to create
• Be equipped with practical frameworks to make informed, strategic decisions about your philanthropy
• Build confidence to make decisions in complex and uncertain environments
• Develop the ability to think more strategically about impact and long-term systems change
• Gain insight into effective approaches to collaboration across organisations and sectors
• Strengthen your leadership capability grounded in ethical and inclusive principles
• Connect with a trusted peer network for shared learning and insight

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Our suite of short courses offers a range of learning experiences through interactive e-learning modules featuring real-world case studies and practical frameworks. In-person or online workshops then provide opportunities to practise with peers using action-learning techniques. Find the right course for your learning journey below.

SHORT COURSE: EFFECTIVE GIVING

• Learn from local and global best practice approaches to giving
• Clarify and develop your personal and organisational values and how they guide giving
• Understand how change happens and where your giving can contribute
• Select giving and grantmaking approaches that match your goals
• Strengthen impact through ethical practice and respectful partnerships
• Build your understanding about measuring what works
• Develop your own giving roadmap that maximises your intended impact

SHORT COURSE: GIVING IN COMPLEXITY

• Shift from linear problem-solving to emergent strategy
• Navigate uncertainty and adapt strategies by recognising patterns and responding to change
• Strengthen leadership to work effectively with boards and support learning and accountability
• Examine how donors contribute to systems change and where impact can grow
• Address power dynamics and build effective, collaborative partnerships
• Support community-led initiatives and focus on root causes rather than symptoms
• Integrate First Nations systems thinking into philanthropic practice

“The learnings were extraordinary and really shifted the way I think about giving and impact.”

WHICH COURSE SHOULD I START WITH?

• Start with Effective Giving no matter where you are on your giving journey if you are wanting to strengthen your impact, align your values, bring greater intention and knowledge to giving practices and develop your own giving roadmap to guide your impact efforts. If you are a not-for-profit practitioner or grantseeker, this course helps you understand how philanthropy works in Australia so you can approach funders with greater clarity and confidence.

• Start with Giving in Complexity if you are on the giving side of the philanthropic ecosystem, already have experience in philanthropy or social impact and are ready to deepen your practice, work with complexity and focus on systems change.
  

For funders, we would recommend both courses be taken as a connected learning pathway, starting with Effective Giving and proceeding to Giving in Complexity. You will gain even more from the learning program when you bring your lived experience as a practitioner into the course.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR PRACTICE

As a result of completing a course with The Giving Academy, you will be better equipped to:

• Design giving strategies that are intentional, values-aligned, and fit for purpose
• Move from reactive funding to more thoughtful, evidence-informed practice
• Respond effectively to complexity by adapting approaches as contexts evolve
• Focus your resources on long-term, systemic change rather than short-term outcomes
• Engage more constructively with partners, communities, and collaborators
• Use your influence, networks, and learning to strengthen philanthropic impact

Scholarships

As part of our commitment to strengthening the philanthropic sector, The Giving Academy will offer a limited number of scholarships and supported places. Full details will be released shortly.

Reserve your seat

Places will be limited to preserve the quality of learning and peer exchange. We encourage early enrolment.