Duration
4 half-day sessions (Live Online)
Dates
TBC (Live Online)

Maximising impact in emerging markets for philanthropists
The programme explores how philanthropic capital can best be deployed to deliver impact and long-term system change. You 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
Over four half-days you will explore the philanthropy paradigm shift. You will learn what it means to be strategic and how to ensure programmes are evidence based. You will understand how to leverage brand equity for collaboration so that partnerships can be mutually rewarding. You will explore the range of financial instruments and models that can help you deliver sustainable outcomes at scale. You will leave with a new perspective on increasing the impact of your philanthropy in the developing world.
This unique and bespoke programme has been developed by the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy at Cambridge Judge Business School.
Topics
Your learning journey
Strategic philanthropy – what does it mean?
- Identify the difference between traditional and strategic methods of philanthropy
- Evaluate how strategic your philanthropic organisation is today
- Understand the importance of engaging multi-sector actors across the ecosystem
- Define what a brand is and why a strong brand is important for a philanthropic organisation
- Understand how to build a strong brand
- Assess how you can evolve your organisation for greater impact.
Building effective interventions
- Evaluate the causal model of social challenge to ensure better impact
- Recognise the playing field and find a ‘white space’ to avoid duplication
- Understand why you should measure impact
- Learn about what you should be measuring and how to do it efficiently
- Understand some of the core challenges when operating in emerging markets
- Understand what local actors in emerging markets require to build effective philanthropy.
Collaborating across the ecosystem
- Identify the right partners by scanning the field through stakeholder mapping
- Collaborate effectively by understanding the pitfalls of information-sharing
- Recognise the opportunity for hybrid finance and how to navigate it
- Scope your alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals
- Understand why governance is so important and why it can be challenging
- Plan how you can get the most out of your Board.
Leadership & learning from the field
- Revenue generating models
- How NGOs, charities and social enterprises scale their programmes
- The role of research and evaluation in revenue generation
- The key skills for leading change
- How to use storytelling to achieve change
- How to bring stakeholders on board and how to lead for change.
Download the Open Programmes brochure for more information on the modules and faculty.
Benefits
- Ensure that your philanthropy is truly effective and strategic
- Move beyond grants and explore other financial instruments and blended finance
- Build evidence to support your chosen intervention
- Create an effective governance model that supports impact
- Build a productive relationship with governments in emerging markets
- On completion of the programme, participants will be awarded a digital certificate of completion by Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education.

This programme counts towards the Cambridge Judge Business School General Management Certificate of Achievement. On completing the GMCA you will be eligible to become an associate member of Cambridge Judge Business School’s global network of graduates and business-focused University of Cambridge alumni, faculty and staff.
Faculty & speakers
Learn from our world-class faculty who bring fresh insights from their leading-edge research into all of our Executive Education programmes.
The Academic Programme Director (APD) for the Strategic Philanthropy in Emerging markets programme is Professor Khaled Soufani.
Access profiles of the programme’s APD and faculty:
Download the Open Programmes brochure for more information on the modules and faculty.
Programme format

Live Online
Our Live Online programmes bring Cambridge to you wherever you are, delivering the best aspects of a face-to-face learning experience here in Cambridge, into your office or home. Using technologies we are all now familiar with, you will take part in breakout groups with real time interaction between your peers and faculty. You will engage in realistic simulations or use software-enabled “sprint” design development. We also introduce guest speakers, live “Cambridge Union”-style debates and panels of experts and practitioners into the class.
Our Live Online programmes take place over a number of half-day sessions, run in the mornings (UK time).
Who should attend?
- Professionals working in philanthropy including intermediaries (e.g. financial institutions)
- Individual philanthropists seeking to create new funds or programmes
- ODA officials looking to engage philanthropic capital to support the UN’s SDGs
- Academics seeking insights into operational challenges facing philanthropic practitioners
- Beneficiary organisations who are seeking funding to scale up their organisation
- Corporate professionals or advisors looking to deploy commercial capital for social impact.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) update
Why Cambridge Judge Business School?
Cambridge Judge faculty
All of our programmes are designed and led by an Academic Programme Director, who is a member of Cambridge Judge Business School faculty. They will also deliver substantial portions of that programme.
Leading-edge research
The research conducted by Cambridge Judge Business School’s 19 research centres, across a diverse range of disciplines, flows directly into all of our programmes, bringing new insights to our programme content.
Small group learning
With small class sizes, we continue the Cambridge way of learning that emphasises high levels of interaction with both our world-class faculty and peers.
Related programmes
Strategic Philanthropy in Emerging Markets belongs to our Strategy & Growth-topic executive education programmes. Here is a selection of other Strategy & Growth programmes:
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like to have a chat about this programme and how it could benefit you or your organisation, please get in touch with the programme advisor:
Di Kennedy
Centre Manager
Centre for Strategic Philanthropy

Fees
£1,875 + VAT (Live Online)
Fees include instruction, materials and breaks. Preferential rates may be available for groups, University of Cambridge alumni and members of the School’s Alumni Association. Please note prices pre-registration are subject to change.
Additional information
Registration closes at midday two working days before the programme start date.
Participants are expected to attend the full programme.
VAT is charged at the prevailing rate, which is currently 20%; e.g. £1,875 + 20% = £2,250.
For information regarding payment terms, cancellation rights, transfer policies and fees, please see our terms & conditions documents:
Terms & Conditions for Self-funded Applicants (updated 25 August 2021)
Terms & Conditions for Organisation-funded Applicants (updated 25 August 2021)
Version 3 (11 April 2022)