Duration: 2.5 day
Level: Basic
Venue: Singapore University of Social Sciences
Synopsis
High-performing charities are built on strong governance, financial sustainability, and effective stakeholder engagement. In an era of increasing regulatory scrutiny and shifting donor expectations, charity leaders must develop leadership and management competencies to navigate complex challenges while advancing their mission. First launched in 2019, this enhanced 2.5-day executive course has been refined to focus on the core competencies that drive high-performing charities.
Designed for board directors and senior management, this program equips participants with practical insights aligned with Singapore’s Charities Act, regulatory framework, AML compliance standards, best practices in fundraising and volunteer management. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and applied exercises, participants will develop skills in strategic decision-making, risk governance, and stakeholder engagement.
The course culminates in a closed-door dialogue with a senior delegate from The Charity Council or the Commissioner of Charities, providing first-hand insights into emerging governance expectations, public accountability, and compliance requirements that shape the charity sector’s future.
Who Should Attend
- Board directors, executive directors & C-suite leaders in charities
- Senior management responsible for governance, risk, fundraising, and volunteer engagement.
Topics
1. Non-Profit Leadership
- Community leadership and Building Shared Perspectives
- Stewardship – Service Over Self-Interest
- Ethical Decision Making
- Hierarchy of Choice Framework
- Creative Tension Model
2. Governance & Risk Management
- Community leadership and Building Shared Perspectives
- Stewardship – Service Over Self-Interest
- Ethical Decision Making
- Hierarchy of Choice Framework
- Creative Tension Model
3. Volunteer Management
- Community leadership and Building Shared Perspectives
- Stewardship – Service Over Self-Interest
- Ethical Decision Making
- Hierarchy of Choice Framework
- Creative Tension Model
4. Fundraising
- Community leadership and Building Shared Perspectives
- Stewardship – Service Over Self-Interest
- Ethical Decision Making
- Hierarchy of Choice Framework
- Creative Tension Model
Learning Outcome
A. Knowledge and Understanding (Theory Component)
At the end of this course, participants should be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of diverse leadership styles in nonprofit management and their role in ethical governance.
- Evaluate governance standards and regulatory requirements, including the Charities Act, AML guidelines, and charity self-assessment frameworks.
- Assess risk in fundraising, governance, and volunteer management, applying the Risk Management Framework and Cycle of Inference to mitigate threats.
- Understand the financial responsibilities of board and management, ensuring compliance with stewardship and donor accountability principles.
- Develop strategies for effective volunteer engagement, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and community impact.
B. Key Skills
At the end of this course, participants should be able to:
- Apply ethical decision-making models to board and management dilemmas in charity operations.
- Conduct self-assessment using the Charity Transparency Framework and Governance Evaluation Checklist, ensuring alignment with the Code of Governance.
- Develop fundraising models that balance financial sustainability and donor trust.
- Foster cross-sector collaboration and collective impact through stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Enhance volunteer recruitment and retention strategies to improve community participation.
Schedule
| Time | Agenda |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | |
| 18:00 - 21:00 | Non-Profit Leadership & Ethical Governance
|
| Day 2 | |
| 09:30 - 13:00 | Volunteer Management
|
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 - 17:30 | Government & Risk Management
|
| Day 3 | |
| 09:30 - 13:00 | Fundraising
|
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 - 16:30 | Charity Leadership in Action
|
| 16:30 - 17:30 | Assessment |
Assessments
- Individual Presentation
- Q&A by Instructor
Requirements
- Existing employee or volunteer of a charity organisation
About the Trainer
Dr Caroline Lim
Head of Organisation and Leadership for Non-Profits Programme, S R Nathan School of Human Development, SUSS
PhD (General Management) Singapore Management University, 2017; Executive MBA Tsinghua-INSEAD, 2013; Bachelor of Arts National University of Singapore, 1995
Dr Lim is the Head of Organisation and Leadership for Social Change Programme at S R Nathan School of Human Development at SUSS. She is a practitioner-turned-academic. Her practitioner experience included banking & finance, higher education and public healthcare. She teaches in undergraduate, postgraduate and executive programmes. The courses she has taught included B2B marketing, sustainability marketing, volunteer management, and social impact analysis.
She currently studies and research into caregiver assemblage, community building & engagement, online fundraising analytics and social impact analysis. The book “Non-Profit Leadership and Management in Singapore” she co-authored was published in 2022. Caroline serves the community in different capacities such as in corporate governance at HCA Hospice Limited, and as an advisory member of the SingHealth Community Partnership Council
Associate Professor Soh Kee Hean
Associate Professor Soh Kee Hean is Head of the Criminal Investigation Minor in SUSS and teaches in various courses in the Public Safety and Security programme, including courses on Governance and Corruption, Policing and Crime, and Transnational Crime. He joined SUSS after retiring from the Police, where he served more than 30 years. In the Police, he held leadership appointments in Geylang Police Division, Police Operations Department, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Technology and Home Team School of Criminal Investigation. He also served in the Home Team Academy, Ministry of Home Affairs and Council for Estate Agencies (CEA). He was also Director of Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) for five years. A/Prof Soh has much experience in investigation into criminal and regulatory offences, including white collar and corruption offences. He also has expertise in leading organisations and managing policy, operation, planning, technology and training work domains.
Mr
Sng Hock Lin
PhD Candidate in Gerontology, SUSS;
Master of Training & Development Griffith University, 2018; Master of Gerontology
(Gold Award) SUSS, 2016;
Master of Science (Transport System & Management) National
University of Singapore, 2014;
Specialist Postgraduate Diploma in Learning and Instruction
National Institute of Education, 2017;
Diploma in Theater Logistics Planners Program
US Army Logistics University, 2013; Graduate Diploma in Defence Science and Technology
National University of Singapore, 2005;Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering National
Technological University, 1996
Hock Lin is currently the Chief of Silver Generation Office (SGO), Agency of Integrated Care. The SGO is the national agency that actively outreaches to and engages Singaporean seniors on government schemes and policies, supports seniors to live in the community through active ageing programmes, connects lonely seniors with befrienders, and provides vulnerable seniors with care and support services.
Previously, Hock Lin was the Chief of ActiveSG, the national movement for sport. He led the Operations SAYANG to repurpose our sports centres to take care of our migrant workers during the Circuit Breaker. Not wasting a crisis, he seized the opportunity and led the ActiveSG 3.0 transformation through digitalisation, technology and people development.
Beyond engaging our citizens through sports and leading the Team Nila volunteers to issue masks and carepacks in the midst of the Covid-19 situation, ActiveSG 3.0 was also recognised for a number of awards in 2022. Accredited the GOLD Award by the National Centre of Excellence for Workplace Learning; the MOST SCALABLE COLLABORATION award in partnership with ITE by Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC) for an innovative IoT solution transferable across industries; the INNOVATION OF THE YEAR – RESPONSE TO COVID-19 finalist award as part of the 10th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards for the design and implementation of hybrid Seniors’ Sports Day engaging 20,000 seniors.
Hock Lin was a Colonel in the SAF and the Commander of Army Logistics Training Institute (ALTI). Under his leadership, ALTI collaborated with Institutes of Higher Learning to build an integrated educational eco-system for servicemen. Hock Lin and his team also established the Basic Military School (V) with a Care Hub for holistic care of PES C and E soldiers. For transforming ALTI with future-ready adult learning strategies, curriculum and training technology, Hock Lin was awarded the Public Sector Transformation Award in 2019.
He volunteered with the Silver Caregivers and The Good Life Cooperatives. He was SUSS Gerontology Alumni Chairman (2018-2020), and is currently the Deputy Chairman of Singapore Polytechnic’s Media, Art and Design School Academic Advisory Committee, and a member of the Sport and Exercise is Medicine Steering Committee under National Health Group.
Mr Sng is a lifelong learner and authentic leader who derives meaning and purpose from leading teams to achieve extraordinary outcomes. He enjoys running, reading and coffee.
Mr Goh Chee Kong
Goh Chee Kong’s extensive community service includes five years as Chairman of Shine Children and Youth Services (formerly known as Students Care Service), four years as President of Beyond Social Services, and seven years on the Programme Advisory Committee for English Television and Radio Programmes under the former Media Development Authority of Singapore. He currently chairs the Marketing Communications Advisory Panel of Singapore Red Cross, serves on the Nomination Committee of Shine Children and Youth Services, Corporate Communications Committee of Focus on the Family, and the St. Andrew's School Board of Governors. Recognized for his contributions, he was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2016.
Beyond his community involvement, Chee Kong is an independent consultant specializing in public and media relations, government relations, and marketing. He holds a B Sc (Electrical & Electronic Engineering) from the Royal Military College of Science, UK, and a Master of Defence Studies from the University of New South Wales, Australia. With his diverse expertise and commitment to social causes, Chee Kong offers invaluable insights into effective fundraising strategies within the charity sector.
Application Procedures
Please submit the following documents to
[email protected]:
- Coloured copy (back and front) of NRIC for Singaporeans and PRs, or "Employment"/"S"
Pass for foreign applicant
- Application form
Course Fee 
2 Enhanced
Training Support for SMEs: SME-sponsored employees (Singaporean Citizens
and PRs) aged 21 and above may enjoy subsidies up to 90% of the course fees.
- Participants are required to achieve at least 75% attendance and sit and pass any prescribed examinations/assessments or submit any course/project work (if any) under the course requirement.
- Participants are required to complete all surveys and feedbacks related to the course.
- The course fees are reviewed annually and may be revised. The University reserves the right to adjust the course fees without prior notice.
- Singapore University of Social Sciences reserves the right to amend
and/or revise the above schedule without prior notice.
For the various payment modes, please refer here.
Course Withdrawal and Refund
Request for withdrawal from a course must be submitted to SUSS Academy formally in writing.
- Course Withdrawal before Application Close Date: No charges.
- Course Withdrawal after course confirmation: 50% of the full course fee with an administration fee imposed.
- Course Withdrawal after the course commences: Full course fee applies.
For clarification, please contact the SUSS Academy via the following:
Telephone: +65 6248 0263
Email: [email protected]