September 2025 - March 2026
Leading Social Impact
Accelerate your social impact and career alongside a global cohort, with certification from New College, University of Oxford.
Programme information
In collaboration with New College, University of Oxford, The Gradel Institute of Charity and Clore Social Leadership are launching the Certificate in Leading Social Impact. Commencing in September 2025, the residential programme offers leaders a unique opportunity to accelerate their social impact and career through a curriculum that combines blends practical strategy with academic excellence, tailored to the unique challenges of social leadership.
Social sector leaders will learn from global experts in a setting while gaining the added benefit of networking and building relationships with like-minded peers in social leadership from around the world.
Taking place over three days at New College Oxford, participants will come together in person to gain strategic thinking, ethical decision-making, financial management and impact assessment skills, while also exploring AI's role in social purpose organisations, steeped in promoting equity, diversity and inclusion.
To find out more, sign up to join a live Insights and Q&A webinar. Please contact us in case of any queries.
Programme Detail
In-person and online learning
~7 days' commitment
4-day residential at New College Oxford
£3,550 Early Bird // £3,950 Full Fee
Programme Features
Global faculty in social leadership
Peer network of social leaders
Certificate from New College Oxford
Clore Social Leadership Fellowship
This partnership brings together Clore Social's expertise in social leadership, The Gradel Institute's focus on research and innovation, and the academic excellence of New College Oxford.
Key dates
Application fee
and deadlines
Apply by Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 11:59pm BST to secure the Early Bird fee of £3,550. After this date, the full fee of £3,950 will apply. The final application deadline is Tuesday 17 June 2025 at 11:59pm BST.
The application fee covers three-night accommodation at the University of Oxford residential, along with breakfast, lunch and two dinners. Participants are responsible for covering their own travel to and from the residential and celebration event in March 2026.
Application
process
Applications are assessed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis, with limited places available. To secure your place, please submit your application promptly. Once assessed and approved, successful applicants will receive payment options. Please note that your place will only be confirmed once payment has been completed. Payment must be completed by the early bird deadline to secure the discounted rate; however, we understand unforeseen circumstances may arise - please contact us if you experience any issues or delays.
Programme
dates
The programme launches with a four-day, three-night residential at the University of Oxford from 12:00 BST on Thursday 11 September to 12:00 on Sunday 14 September 2025. Attendance at the residential is mandatory for certification. The programme will conclude with an afternoon celebration and networking event in London in March 2026. Throughout the programme, online workshops will also be available. All dates will be confirmed in June 2025.
Eligibility criteria
Professional
experience
Open to individuals from all sectors - private, public and charity - with experience leading projects, teams, organisations or businesses with a social impact. If you are unsure of your eligibility for this programme, please contact us.
National and
global contexts
Designed for an international audience that includes professionals, leaders and changemakers committed to driving social impact on a national or global scale. This programme is ideal for those looking to make meaningful contributions across various social contexts.
Passionate about
social change
Ideal for professionals who are looking to enhance their strategic and leadership skills, fostering innovation, building peer networks and promoting social impact.
Programme learning
You will have the opportunity to learn from and interact with a global faculty of experienced leaders and practitioners. Their diverse perspectives and real-world insights are designed to challenge and inspire you. You will explore new ideas, sharpen your skills and uncover practical ways to tackle the challenges you face, helping you create a lasting impact in your work.
Click on the buttons below to learn more about each element.
Residential Topics
-
This provides an in-depth look at leadership for social impact, integrating agile leadership principles. Participants will learn how to lead effectively by fostering adaptability, embracing diverse perspectives and engaging stakeholders. Beyond interpersonal skills, the session will explore how agile leaders use tools and strategies to navigate change and make informed decisions, through collaborative case studies and interactive exercises. The session offers practical insights into applying these strategies to drive innovation, resilience and sustained success, collaboratively with peers, to achieve impactful outcomes in a rapidly evolving landscape.
-
Every leader committed to social impact needs a toolbox of frameworks and strategy models that can guide their organisation to higher levels of effectiveness. Applying management tools to real world cases from the sector then bringing these tools to bear on the participants’ own organisation, the programme will challenge you to not just study but apply strategic perspectives that clarify the presentation of your intended impact, map the competitive landscape, measure performance, market services to clients, assess and manage risks, and build a financially strong model.
-
We will explore how leaders can imagine and implement innovative programmes that meet the authentic needs of their clients. With a special focus on inclusiveness, the skills learned will assist participants in learning how to imagine, iterate, prototype and implement new programmes in ways that start with a focus on how diversity within a client population poses a special challenge to come up with solutions that are tailored to the real needs of all stakeholders.
-
We explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation can transform social impact efforts. Participants will discover how AI can streamline processes, analyse data and enhance decision-making through real-world case studies and discussions. We will also cover emerging digital tools to boost effectiveness across industries. In addition, we will address ethical considerations, ensuring responsible technology use. Participants will be equipped to leverage AI and digital innovations effectively and navigate their ethical implications for impactful results.
-
Designed to meet the needs of leaders from all sectors. While the core principles of governance such as accountability, transparency and strategic oversight are universal, their application varies across different contexts. Engaging in cross-sector learning enriches understanding and fosters the development of innovative governance strategies that drive organisational success.
-
The programme offers the chance to build meaningful relationships for the greater good within a diverse network of peers from around the world. It creates opportunities to explore how others address challenges and achieve impact. Collaboration, idea-sharing and mutual support are encouraged to unlock new possibilities, amplify efforts and inspire lasting change.
Online Topics
-
This session will explore how the political landscape can significantly influence funding priorities, advocacy efforts, and regulatory environments within the social sector. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective leadership and strategic decision-making in organisations focused on social impact.
-
Participants will explore various financial models to understand how they can drive financial stability and growth across the sectors. We will highlight innovative strategies and real-world examples, as well as provide insights into developing sustainable income streams for social impact. Additionally, we will focus on how sectors can collaborate to achieve their funding goals, examining how shared resources and partnerships can enhance financial resilience and impact. You will learn how to adapt these innovative models to your organisation’s needs and build effective collaborations for long-term success.
Accelerate your social impact
Programme schedule
We know that professional development can have a transformational impact for you and your organisation, but making time for it can be a challenge. Please see below for an overview of the programme schedule to help you plan ahead - dates of the online learning and celebration event will be confirmed in June 2025.
Session, Location, Date & Time (UK time - BST/GMT)
Welcome & Residential
Location: University of Oxford, UK
Start: 12:30 Thursday 11 September 2025
End: 11:00 Sunday 14 September 2025
The Political Landscape
Location: Online
November 2025
Innovative Financial Models and Effective Partnerships
Location: Online
January 2026
Celebration Event
Location: London, UK
March 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Your passion for and experience in the social sector are all you need to apply. You don’t need to have any particular academic or professional qualifications to take part in the programme.
-
You are more than welcome to contact us to talk through your experience and we can advise you further. In case you have less experience and are looking for a personal development opportunity focused in the UK social sector, please see Clore Social Leadership's Emerging Leader or Experienced Leader programmes.
-
On completion of the programme, you will receive a certificate from New College, University of Oxford. You will also join the Clore Social Leadership Fellowship, enabling you access to a large network of social sector leaders from across the UK. Opportunities to connect with Clore Social fellows and continue learning will be supported, encouraged and facilitated wherever possible.
-
Bursaries are not currently available for this programme, however, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your needs and we will do our best to accommodate them.
Should Clore Social offer bursaries for any programmes, they will be announced via our monthly newsletter.
-
Please read the Application Guidance word document before you apply for the programme. Many of the questions on the online application form require tick-box/dropdown box answers. However, there are several questions that require you to provide a written answer. We therefore recommend that you use this document to plan your answers in advance before completing the online application form, as the form will not save your answers, so you must complete it in one go. If you need any support or adjustments for the application process, for any reason whatsoever, please contact us.
-
If you need any support or adjustments for the application process, please contact us.
-
If you have any questions, please email us.
-
We want to remove as many barriers as possible to support you to engage with this development opportunity. If you, or a colleague, need any adjustments, please contact us.
-
Yes, all rooms will have ensuite facilities for your comfort. More information on the accommodation will be available in June 2025. In case of any concerns, please contact us.
-
The accommodation is at the University of Oxford, England, UK. The exact location will be available on the website, and shared with all applicants in June 2025.
-
Absolutely. You are welcome to organise your own accommodation if preferred, but please note that we are unable to adjust the programme fee.
-
Please let us know in the dedicated section of the application form. We will follow up with you directly to ensure we are able to accommodate your needs.
-
You will need to arrange any extra nights of accommodation yourself, but we will be happy to recommend options nearby.
-
Accommodation for the celebration event is not included in the programme fee, but we will provide all details of the event in June 2025 to help you plan.
-
The celebration is likely to run from around 13:00 to 18:00 GMT, and we will confirm exact timings in June 2025.
-
To receive a certificate, participation in the in-person residential element of the programme is mandatory. This component is essential for meeting the programme's requirements and ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.
-
The residential element of the programme must be attended in person. This immersive, in-person experience is essential for building connections, engaging fully in activities and achieving the programme's learning outcomes.