The Nonprofit Fellowships

In recognition of the strong social and economic significance of the non-profit sector to the Australian community, the Harvard Club of Australia is offering two Fellowships to attend the highly regarded six-day course Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) in July 2020 at the Harvard Business School.

Now in its 20th year, the Harvard Club of Australia Nonprofit Fellowships help fulfil the increasing demand for managerial skills and strategic decision-making within the not-for-profit sector. The course will assist participants to examine their missions, develop new strategies and improve the effectiveness of their organisations.

About the Course:

Today's NFP organisations are faced with shifting demands for services, mounting financial pressures, and diverse operational challenges. To fulfil their missions, nonprofit leaders must step up their game and create organisations that can thrive in the midst of change. Exploring crucial concepts and skills for nonprofit leadership in uncertain times, this program will prepare you to strengthen fiscal management and accountability while leading the evolution needed to create an effective, high-performing organisation.

The Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program delivers the strategic perspectives, leadership skills, and practical tools you need to drive change across the organisation. You will leave fully prepared to take decisive action and create a more responsive, successful, and sustainable not-for-profit organisation.

What You Will Learn:

Through a rich learning experience that includes faculty presentations, case studies on not-for-profit organisations, group exercises, and structured and informal group discussions, you will explore how today's not-for-profit leaders are tackling a broad range of challenges. As you enhance core skills crucial to managing not-for-profit organisations, you will prepare to implement new strategies and drive change across your organisation.

Who Should Attend?

Nonprofit executive directors and chief executive officers who are responsible for shaping the direction, mission, policies, and major programs of their organisations - and who have been in their current role for at least one year by the program start date. Participating organisations must be public-serving nonprofits, fully operational, and out of the start-up phase; they typically have operating budgets in excess of A$1.5 million. Eligibility requirements are detailed below.

Course Details:

Recipients of the 2020 Non-Profit Fellowships will attend the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management course in July 2020 over 6 days.

Course location: Harvard Business School campus, Boston, United States

Course dates: Sunday 12 - Saturday 18 July 2020

Important Dates:

Fellowship Inclusions:

There are two Nonprofit Fellowships available for 2020.

The award of A$12,500 each covers the course fees, accommodation, meals and travel to/from Boston. HCA also encourage Fellows to visit kindred organisations while in North America.

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants for the 2020 Fellowships must:

• Be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
• Be the full-time CEO of their organisation
• Have been in the CEO role for at least 12 months before applying
• Be committed to full-time attendance at this year’s SPNM course, to live on campus and to arrive no later than 11 July 2020 (course dates are 12-18 July 2020)
• Have not previously attended this or any similar course at Harvard
• Attend the Harvard Club’s Awards event to be held in Sydney on 18 May 2020, at noon

The applicant must lead a not-for-profit organisation that:

• Has at least 5 full-time employees and an operating budget greater than A$1.5 million
• Directly serves the Australian community and is not principally a fundraising, advocacy or coordinating entity 
• Has a functioning Board of Directors; is audited and produces an Annual Report
• Meets the Australian definition of a Nonprofit, with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status

Selection of Fellows will be based on the same basis as Harvard uses to select course participants. Particular emphasis will be placed on:

• The specific challenge/opportunity the applicant wishes to address at the SPNM course
• The applicant’s overall goals and vision in attending the course
• The organisation’s and the applicant’s ability to have impact in the community
• The applicant’s ability to improve nonprofit leadership skills within Australia

Application Process:

ASF is proud to support the Harvard Club of Australia by facilitating and managing the application process on its behalf. To apply for a Harvard Club of Australia Nonprofit Fellowship, please complete the online application process via the Australian Scholarships Foundation application portal. Follow these five simple steps:

1. Click the 'APPLY NOW' button at the bottom of this page.
2. Profile page: Follow the prompts to sign in or create an ASF profile (this will be a hub from which you can apply for any scholarships in future).
3. Fill in or update your profile to include your last three employment roles* (including your current role). You must provide a role description, start and end dates, organisation name and position title.
4. Application form: Click the red 'Make an Application' button and select the Fellowship from the drop-down menu.
5. Follow the prompts to upload your supporting documents** and complete / submit an online application form. You will receive an automated confirmation email once you've submitted it successfully.

*This is an essential part of the application process this year. Note, this does not include directorship or volunteer roles - you may list these in addition if you wish.

**Includes an endorsement letter (written and signed by the chair of your organisation) and an organisational chart depicting the internal structure of your NFP organisation. You will be guided on what to include once you reach this step.

Need help completing your online application? Download instructions for Creating a Profile Page and Making an Application.

If you need assistance with the application process, please contact Australian Scholarships Foundation before the application deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.

Assessment Process:

The Harvard Club of Australia will be managing the assessment, interview and selection process for this scholarship. If you have any questions about this process or about the Fellowship itself, please contact HCA directly.

More Information:

For more information about the program, please click here. For assistance with the application process, please contact the team at ASF before the application deadline.

Applications for the Harvard Club of Australia Nonprofit Fellowships will close Tuesday 4 February 2020 at 5pm AEDT.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. Any applications submitted after 5pm Tuesday 4 February will not be accepted.