AVPN Philanthropy Fellowship
Strategic Philanthropy in Asia: Maximising Impact
AVPN Academy, in partnership with the Cambridge Judge Business School, offers a fellowship programme that seeks to help practitioners better understand and unleash the opportunity of philanthropy for sustainable, scalable and measurable impact.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
We have just concluded the August 2025 run of the fellowship. If you are interested to apply for the next run, please send a registration of interest through the link below and the team will get back to you as soon as the next run opens. Thank you!
PROGRAMME FEES
USD 2,000 for AVPN members
USD 3,000 for non-members
No additional cost for AVPN Suite Pass Subscribers*
*Kindly note that the complimentary Suite Pass for AVPN Vision members does not cover access to the AVPN Global Conference.
overview
Be an AVPN Philanthropy Fellow
Learn what it means to be strategic and how to ensure programmes are evidence-based. Understand how to leverage brand equity for collaboration so that partnerships can be mutually rewarding. Explore the range of financial instruments and models that can help you deliver sustainable outcomes at scale. Leave with a new perspective on increasing the impact of your philanthropy in the developing world. Build a community of peers committed to catalysing greater philanthropic impact.
The programme explores how philanthropic capital can best be deployed to deliver impact and long-term system change. Fellows will analyse many of the challenges and opportunities that face emerging market philanthropists in trying to align work with national development plans, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the need to deliver high-impact sustainable outcomes at scale.
This is a hybrid programme involving a mix of virtual sessions and an in-person convening at the AVPN Global Conference 2025 in Hong Kong.
The programme will be co-facilitated by the Cambridge Judge Business School.
Successful registrants will be notified via email.
WHO
Who should join
- Professionals working in philanthropic organisations
- Individual philanthropists seeking to create new funds or programmes
- ODA officials, government officials, and policy makers looking to engage philanthropic capital to support the SDGs
- Academics seeking insights into operational challenges facing philanthropic practitioners
- Corporate professionals looking to deploy commercial capital for social impact
- Philanthropy advisors
WHAT
Programme key themes
Understand how best to deploy philanthropic capital for impact and long-term system change
Understand the challenges and opportunities that face emerging market philanthropists
Learn how to deliver sustainable outcomes at scale
Programme benefits
Networking, Partnership, and Collaboration Opportunities
Executive Education with a
Certificate of Attendance
Leadership Development and
Strategic Thinking
THE FACILITATORS
Meet the faculty
Dr. Shonali Banerjee
Visiting Research Fellow
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School
Andrew Jenkins
Visiting Fellow
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School
Dr. Simon Learmount
Professor in Corporate Governance
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School
Dr. Shasha Lu
Associate Professor in Marketing
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School
Dr. Arnil Paras
Executive Director, Insights and Academy
AVPN
Prof. Jaideep Prabhu
Professor of Marketing and Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Indian Business
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School
Dr. Samsurin Welch
Associate and Lecturer
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School
Clare Woodcraft
Visiting Fellow
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School
agenda*
Fellowship programme
DAY 1
VIRTUAL
Induction and Kickoff Event
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DAY 2
VIRTUAL
Strategic Philanthropy: Why and How?
The first module of this programme explores what strategic philanthropy means and offers a framework for understanding what constitutes ‘effective philanthropy’. Looking at how businesses evolve and refine their strategies, it will identify some of the key considerations when evaluating your operational models.
Collaborating for Impact
This looks at how to identify the right partners by analysing the need for resources and mapping the stakeholder network in your field. You will also address the issues surrounding information-sharing once you have selected a partner.
BRAC Case Study on Scaling Impact
Using the case study of BRAC, the world’s largest NGO, you will look at how the organisation scaled for impact. The module explores the different methods for impact evaluation and how you can monitor impact for the long-term.
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DAY 3
VIRTUAL
Identifying Gaps to Maximise ImpactÂ
This module focuses on three key elements of maximising philanthropic impact: ‘looking inside’ by choosing your cause, ‘looking outside’ by scoping the field and ‘looking forward’ by defining your theory of change. You will look at how to find the ‘sweet spot’ by examining your context, existing initiatives, your needs and your organisational capabilities.
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
Recognise indicators that show when power dynamics are impeding partnerships’ efficacy in addressing huge societal problems such as climate change, poverty and health.
Philanthropy for Entrepreneurs
Explore the philanthropic journey of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the leading philanthropic organisation empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all African countries, and increasing women’s economic empowerment. Learn about the challenges that the foundation has faced in tangibly and inclusively scaling up the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, given the enormous demand for entrepreneurship support across the continent, and how its lessons can be applied in different regions.
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DAY 4
VIRTUAL
Reading Day
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DAY 5
VIRTUAL
Impact and Leadership
This part of the module examines leadership, where you will look at the key skills needed for leadership, and different leadership theories. You will also learn how to use storytelling to get ‘buy-in’ from board members to secure investment in your projects. This module looks at why you should measure impact; what you should measure and the common mistakes made when measuring impact.
Building Brand and Scaling Programmes
Discover how the Tanoto Foundation evolved its business model in order to facilitate multi-country scale up, partnerships with government and build a leadership position in regional philanthropy. This case study shares the Foundation’s journey looking at both internal and external engagement and how it built its own capacity to maximise impact.
Leveraging the Brand for Impact
This part of the module looks at why branding is important for philanthropic organisations, how you can build a strong brand, trust and opportunities for partnership.
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DAY 6
VIRTUAL
From Traditional to Strategic Philanthropy
Using the case of the King Khalid Foundation of Saudi Arabia, you will examine traditional and strategic types of philanthropy and some of the key challenges that foundations face when moving to more innovative, collaborative operating models. These include working more closely with the private sector, supporting the growth of the broader ecosystem and securing government endorsement.
Governance
The module will look at governance: what it is, why it is important, why it can be challenging
and its importance for building trust, honing an organisation’s values and building
strong collaboration.
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DAYS 7 TO 8
IN-PERSON
In-Person Convening
Connect with other fellows from different parts of the world with a two-day in-person convening.
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Important Notes:
* Dates may be subject to minor revisions depending on feedback from confirmed fellows,
** Kindly note that the complimentary Suite Pass for AVPN Vision members does not cover access to the AVPN Global Conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are currently finalising the schedule for the next run. You may, in the meantime, register interest and we will get back to you as soon as applications open.Â
The time commitment consists of 23.5 hours of virtual learning, and three days for the in-person convening.
- Kickoff and Induction Event – 1 hour
- Virtual Modules – 18 hours (4.5 hours x 4 days)
- Reading day (approx. 4.5 hours)
- In-person Convening – 3 days
The registration cost is USD 2,000 for AVPN members and USD 3,000 for non-AVPN members.
Please note that flight and accommodation costs for the in-person convening in Hong Kong will be covered by the participant. Fellows receive complimentary tickets to the AVPN Global Conference in Hong Kong, where the in-person convening will be held.
There will be no refunds. Please make sure your schedule will allow you to participate for the full duration.
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