Effective Giving
Course type: Short course | Philanthropic professional development and training
Duration: Approximately 21 hours of learning delivered over several weeks
Delivery: Virtual | Hybrid | Custom
Virtual Price: $3,080 incl. GST ($2,800 + $280 GST)
Hybrid Price: $4,290 incl. GST ($3,900 + $390 GST)
Discounts: 20% discount for individuals from grant-seeking charities with annual revenue under $3 million
Strengthen how you give
When you approach philanthropy with clarity and purpose, its impact can extend far beyond the immediate grant – strengthening organisations, enabling communities to thrive and creating change that endures. Effective Giving equips you to be part of that shift.
Created hand-in-hand with sector leaders, this course equips you with practical, evidence-informed frameworks to make strategic decisions about your philanthropy.
Who should attend
The Effective Giving short course is open to anyone seeking to advance their giving practice, including:
- 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
If you are unsure where to begin, Effective Giving provides the foundational frameworks that strengthen impact and prepare you for more advanced systems-level work.
Ready to deepen your practice even further? Giving in Complexity is best suited to those working at a systems level with the seniority or influence to shape strategic philanthropic decisions. Completion of Effective Giving is strongly recommended before progressing to Giving in Complexity.
What you will learn
Effective Giving is an immersive and highly practical short course. Throughout the course you will:
- 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 grant making 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
- Move beyond reactive donations to thoughtful, strategic and intentional giving
- Assess organisational effectiveness and understand what creates lasting change for generations to come
How the course is delivered
TheEffective Giving short course is delivered in both virtual and hybrid (virtual and in-person) formats, allowing you to choose the learning experience that best suits your schedule and preferences.
Virtual format
Our virtual courses are designed to fit around a busy schedule and enable participation from anywhere, while maintaining a rich, interactive learning experience. Each cohort includes:
- A 45-minute welcome session to connect with facilitators and peers
- Four highly interactive facilitated online workshops (two hours each) with peers, delivered weekly or fortnightly
- Self-paced virtual modules to complete ahead of each workshop
- A two-week window following the final online workshop to complete a practical assessment that will help you put your learning into practice
- A digital badge recognising your completion of the course
Hybrid format
Our hybrid courses combine an intensive two-day, in-person experience — designed for deep discussion, practical insight and meaningful peer connection — with self-paced online modules completed in advance of the workshop. Each course includes:
- A 45-minute online welcome session three weeks prior to the workshop
- Self-paced virtual modules to complete ahead of face-to-face workshops
- Two full-day, face-to-face workshops held on a Thursday and Friday in Australian capital cities
- A dedicated networking dinner with your cohort on Thursday evening to build trusted peer relationships across the philanthropic ecosystem
- A two-week window following the final workshop to complete a practical assessment that will help you put your learning into practice
- A digital badge recognising your completion of the course
Effective Giving - Upcoming course dates
★ VIRTUAL COURSE DATES ★
Cohort One: 15 April - 24 June 2026 (REGISTRATIONS FULL - WAITLIST ONLY)
Includes welcome call on 15 April (12:30 – 1:15pm AEST) | 4x fortnightly online workshops, Wednesdays 12:30-2:30pm AEST | Practical assessment due 24 June.
Cohort Two: 28 July - 15 September 2026
Includes welcome call on 28 July (6 – 6:45pm AEST) | 4x weekly online workshops, Tuesdays 6-8pm AEST | Practical assessment due 15 September.
Cohort Three: 21 October - 9 December 2026
Includes welcome call on 21 October (12:30 – 1:15pm AEDT) | 4x weekly online workshops, Wednesdays 12:30-2:30pm AEDT | Practical assessment due 9 December.
★ HYBRID COURSE DATES ★
SYDNEY: 9 April - 15 May 2026,
Includes online welcome call on 9 April (12:30-1:15pm AEST) | In-person workshop, 30 April - 1 May (8:45am - 4pm) | Cohort dinner, 30 April | Practical assessment due 15 May.
PERTH: 3 July - 7 August 2026
Includes online welcome call on 3 July (2:30-3:15pm WST) | In-person workshop, 23 - 24 July (8:45am - 4pm) | Cohort dinner, 23 July | Practical assessment due 7 August.
BRISBANE: 17 September - 23 October 2026
Includes online welcome call on 17 September (12:30-1:15pm AEST) | In-person workshop, 8 - 9 October (8:45am - 4pm) | Cohort dinner, 8 October | Practical assessment due 23 October.
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
Your Investment
The Giving Academy offers a premium learning experience grounded in expert facilitation, high-calibre contributors and a carefully designed, confidential learning environment focused on real-world practice. Effective Giving is an investment in strengthening the quality, clarity and long-term impact of your practice.
Virtual format: $3,080 incl. GST ($2,800 + $280 GST)
Hybrid format: $4,290 incl. GST ($3,900 + $390 GST)
A 20% discount is available for individuals working for grant-seeking charities with an annual revenue under $3million.
Scholarships
As part of our commitment to strengthening the philanthropic sector, The Giving Academy is offering a limited number of scholarships, thanks to the generous support of Minderoo Foundation and Equity Trustees. Scholarships are currently available for:
- First Nations people
- Gender-diverse individuals
- Individuals working in climate-related initiatives
- Staff from smaller sized philanthropic organisations with limited professional development funding
Purchase Your Seat
Fill in the form below to secure your seat in The Giving Academy and proceed to payment. Places are limited to preserve the quality of learning and peer exchange. We encourage early enrolment.