AVPN Philanthropy Fellowship
Strategic Philanthropy in Asia: Maximising Impact
AVPN Academy, in partnership with the Cambridge Centre for Strategic Philanthropy, is curating a fellowship programme that seeks to help practitioners better understand and unleash the opportunity of philanthropy for sustainable, scalable and measurable impact.
DateS
6 to 9 November 2023 – Learning (virtual) 12 to 13 December 2023 – Learning (in-person)
PROGRAMME FEES
USD 3,000 for non-members
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 South Asia Summit 2023 in Mumbai.
The programme will be co-facilitated by the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy (CSP), a research centre based at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. The CSP is a leading hub of actionable knowledge working to catalyse greater philanthropic impact from the world’s fastest growing regions.
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

Prof. Shahzad Ansari
Professor of Strategy and Innovation
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School

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. Lionel Paolella
Associate Professor in Strategy & Organisation
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School

Dr. Arnil Paras
Head
AVPN Academy

Prof. Jaideep Prabhu
Professor of Marketing and Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Indian Business
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School

Roshini Prakash
Chief Knowledge Officer
AVPN

Prof. Thomas Roulet
Professor of Organisational Sociology & Leadership
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School

Clare Woodcraft
Visiting Fellow
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School

Dr. Eden Yin
Associate Professor in Marketing
University of Cambridge
Judge Business School
agenda
Fellowship programme
3 November 2023
5:00 PM SGT
1 HOUR
Induction and Kickoff Event
Join Academy
6 November 2023
5:00 PM SGT
4.5 HOURS
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.
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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7 November 2023
5:00 PM SGT
4.5 HOURS
Identifying Gaps to Maximise Impact
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.
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.
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.
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8 November 2023
5:00 PM SGT
4.5 HOURS
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.
Join Academy
9 November 2023
5:00 PM SGT
4.5 HOURS
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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12-13 DECEMBER 2023
In-Person Convening
Connect with other fellows from different parts of the world with a two-day in-person convening to be held at the AVPN South Asia Summit 2023 in Mumbai.
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Important Note: Dates may be subject to minor revisions depending on feedback from confirmed fellows
Frequently Asked Questions
Applications will run from 25 September to 24 October 2023. Successful applicants will be notified via email.
The programme will start with a one-hour virtual kickoff and induction event on 3 November 2023, Friday.
The time commitment consists of 19 hours of virtual learning, and two days for the in-person convening.
- Kickoff and Induction Event – 1 hour
- Virtual Modules – 18 hours (4.5 hours x 4 days)
- In-person Convening – 2 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 Mumbai will be covered by the participant.
There will be no refunds. Please make sure your schedule will allow you to participate for the full duration.
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