There are 245 scholarships available to not for profit (NFP) directors and chairs as part of the fifth annual NFP Governance Scholarship program, that will give many in the sector the opportunity to improve their leadership and governance skills.

The courses are funded by the Perpetual Foundation and JS Love Trust, which is managed by Perpetual, and run by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

“Investing in the training and development of NFP directors and chairs is critical to improving their skill set and building the capacity of the sector,” said Perpetual’s National Manager Philanthropy and Non Profit Services, Caitriona Fay.

“As one of the largest managers of charitable wealth in Australia, one of Perpetual’s key objectives is to contribute to the advancement of the NFP sector and the quality of its leadership, governance, capability and accountability.

With donors more prudent than ever in ensuring they are supporting organisations that manage finances efficiently and effectively, AICD’s NFP Sector Leader Phil Butler said enhancing governance levels was a high priority for NFPs.

“These scholarships are a wonderful opportunity for directors and chairs of NFP organisations to participate in governance programs and interact with fellow directors on the key issues affecting their organisations. We know from research this training provides excellent ongoing benefits not just to the individual directors but to their organisations as well,” he said.

On completion of this round of scholarships, the NFP Governance Scholarship program will have provided governance education and support to almost 1,700 decision makers in the NFP sector.