Resilient Organisations Are Built On Strong Governance
The Certificate Program in SPO Governance And Compliance Management is a three-month professional program that equips board members, leadership, and implementation teams at social purpose organisations to strengthen governance, manage compliance and build systems that support scale.
Building Governance Capability For A Growing Sector
India’s development sector has grown rapidly, reaching a scale of ₹23 lakh crore in recent years. With that scale, expectations around governance, compliance, and reporting have . Boards and leadership teams are expected to demonstrate not just intent, but consistent accountability and sound practice.
This program was created to help social purpose organisations strengthen governance and compliance as everyday practice—enabling them to scale with stability and trust.
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As social purpose organisations grow, governance expectations increase alongside programmatic reach. Boards and leadership teams are expected to provide stronger oversight, clearer accountability, and consistent decision-making across the organisation.
Regulatory compliance is no longer an occasional or back-office concern. It shapes financial management, fundraising, operations, data use, and ethical practice—and needs to be understood and upheld across roles, not handled in isolation.
Many SPOs approach governance and compliance reactively. This program builds shared capability across boards, leadership, and teams—strengthening governance and compliance as everyday organisational practice.
Strengthening Governance In Practice
The SPO Governance program blends structured learning with applied discussions to help boards, leadership and implementation teams understand their roles and responsibilities towards governance and compliance in the context of everyday decision-making.
The program is designed to translate governance frameworks and policy to practice—strengthening oversight, improving internal coordination and reducing regulatory and operational risk as organisations grow.
Build a working understanding of key regulatory frameworks governing SPOs, including FCRA, GST, TDS, and Income Tax. Participants will learn the applicability of these laws in their organisational context and gain clarity on their interpretation while minimising regulatory and compliance risks.
Understand how to run compliant, ethical fundraising and donor engagement across models such as grants, CSR partnerships, individual giving, events and crowdfunding. The module covers donor due diligence and screening frameworks, Anti-Money Laundering Act, applicable fundraising laws (including FCRA and relevant international considerations), tax benefits and receipt obligations, and risk-aware planning to diversify funding while protecting trust.
Strengthen core financial management practices, including budgeting, accounting standards, and relevant legal provisions. Participants will understand how financial management decisions impact regulatory compliance, donor compliance and statutory obligations, enabling them to build stronger and more accountable financial systems.
Strengthen internal governance through well-defined organisational policies and robust data, knowledge, and technology management systems. Participants will gain an understanding of key labour laws and the DPDP Act and explore their implications for day-to-day operations. The module enables organisations to embed robust internal accountability as an operational standard.
Enhance the ability to navigate complex ethical dilemmas and make well-reasoned decisions rooted in organisational missions. By aligning personal values with professional standards, this module fosters a culture of integrity and ensures ethical coherence across the organsation.
Integrated Governance Framework
A structured approach that goes beyond mere regulatory adherence by integrating statutory, financial, operational and ethical dimensions.
Role-Based Learning
Designed for boards, leadership and implementation teams—clarifying responsibilities and strengthening shared accountability across levels.
Applied Case Discussions
Real-world governance and compliance scenarios drawn from social purpose organisations, focused on decision-making in practice.
Tools And Practical Templates
Actionable checklists, compliance maps, and governance tools that can be adapted within your organisation.
Who Should Apply
This program is designed for social purpose organisations that want governance and compliance to be understood and practised across levels, including:
What SPOs Will Gain
Engaging boards, leadership, and teams in this program helps organisations:
Boards, Leadership And Implementation Teams Trained For 50+ SPOs
Facilitators & Mentors
Aarti Madhusudan is the founder of Governance Counts, an initiative that helps nonprofits build more effective and accountable boards. Her work focuses on identifying governance challenges within nonprofit organisations and recommending best practices to strengthen board leadership and decision-making. She has consulted with several Indian and international organisations on governance and board development.
She is deeply passionate about volunteering and leads Whiteboard, an iVolunteer initiative that brings together senior corporate professionals to provide strategic guidance to nonprofits on a pro bono basis. Aarti also actively volunteers with DaanUtsav. She conducts the Volunteer Management Workshop.
Akanksha is a Human Resources leader with over 18 years of experience in designing and strengthening people practices, particularly within the development sector. At Smile Foundation, she leads initiatives focused on building purpose-driven workplace cultures and enhancing organisational effectiveness. Her work centres on aligning people strategies with mission-driven goals, with a strong emphasis on employee engagement, leadership development, and inclusive, value-based environments.
With deep expertise in talent management, HR systems, and organisational development, Akanksha works closely with leadership teams to build resilient, people-centric organisations. She is also an experienced facilitator and actively contributes to learning and governance initiatives that support nonprofits in strengthening their internal systems and capabilities.
Education: MBA in Human Resources, Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies; BBA in Management, Institute of Marketing and Management.
Deeksha brings over 20 years of diverse experience. At Sapient, where she spent the majority of her work life, she held multiple roles at the senior management level in Human Resources (HR). Here the domains ranged across talent acquisition and development, and workforce planning and deployment.
Her entry into the social sector was in 2012, in Kenya. While there, she helped raise funds for various causes. Back in India, she furthered her entry into the sector by taking up the ‘India Leaders for Social Sector’ or the ILSS program. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, baking, and travelling.
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Dohit is a finance and tax professional with deep expertise in accounting, compliance, and legal advisory, particularly within the nonprofit and development sector. As Co-Founder of Asaya Partners and a Consultant with Aria CFO Services, he works closely with organisations to strengthen financial systems, ensure regulatory compliance, and build robust governance frameworks that enable sustainable operations.
With extensive experience in taxation, accounting, and statutory compliance, Dohit supports organisations in navigating complex financial requirements while promoting transparency and efficiency. His work is rooted in enabling strong financial governance and building resilient systems for long-term impact.
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Naman is a legal and policy professional with expertise in employment law and the social sector. As Lead Legal and Policy Consultant at Pacta, he works on complex legal and policy issues, drawing on his experience with top law firms and chambers where he has handled cases before courts and tribunals across India.
In addition to his consulting work, Naman is a visiting faculty at the National Law School of India University (NLS), Bangalore. His work reflects a strong commitment to bridging legal expertise with policy and development challenges.
Education: LL.M. (Hons.), Columbia Law School; B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS).
Nivedita is a law and public policy consultant with over 15 years of experience in the social sector. She founded Pacta in 2017 and has since focused on advancing legal and policy initiatives to strengthen India’s public education system. Her work lies at the intersection of governance, education, and policy reform, supporting systemic improvements through legal and strategic interventions.
With a strong foundation in both law and public policy, Nivedita brings a nuanced understanding of regulatory frameworks and institutional processes. She is a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and is committed to enabling impactful, policy-driven change in the development sector.
Education: Master’s in Public Policy, Princeton University (School of Public & International Affairs); LL.B., ILS Law College, Pune; Member, Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
Priya is a seasoned governance and financial sector leader with nearly three decades of experience across leading Indian and global financial institutions, including the National Stock Exchange of India, Goldman Sachs, and HSBC. As Co-Founder of Dhiraa SkillDev Foundation, she focuses on advancing financial literacy, skilling, and inclusion to empower individuals and communities.
In addition to her entrepreneurial work, Priya serves as an Independent Director at AXIS Asset Management Company Ltd., where she brings deep expertise in capital markets, risk management, and governance. Her work spans strengthening board effectiveness, advising on governance frameworks, and promoting transparent, responsible leadership practices to build resilient and inclusive financial ecosystems.
Education: Bachelor of Law, University of Mumbai; Associate Company Secretary (ACS), Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
Ravi Bagaria is a finance and compliance expert with extensive experience working in the social sector, focusing on strengthening financial management systems for nonprofits. As the Founding Partner at Aria CFO Services and Aria ERP4Impact LLP, he supports organisations in managing accounting, donor reporting, and regulatory compliance through a combination of technology and advisory services.
He is also the Co-founder of the NGO Finance Network, contributing to building sector-wide knowledge and capacity around financial governance and compliance. Ravi works closely with nonprofits on areas such as accounting, FCRA, audits, and financial sustainability, helping organisations navigate complex regulatory environments and build resilient financial systems.
Education: Chartered Accountant, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI); Bachelor of Commerce, H.R. College of Commerce & Economics.
Ritu Jain is a finance and governance professional with over a decade of experience in the social sector, working extensively to strengthen financial management systems for nonprofits. As Founding Partner at Aria CFO Services and Aria ERP4Impact, she has advised over 350 NGOs on budgeting, reporting, internal controls, and financial health. Her journey into the social sector began with volunteer work in the United States, shaping her commitment to building stronger, more accountable nonprofit systems.
With a multidisciplinary background in finance, law, and taxation, Ritu brings a holistic approach to organisational strengthening. She is also the co-author of the True Cost Computation and Communication Guidelines, helping NGOs develop transparent budgets and improve resource management. Her work focuses on enabling organisations to build robust, compliant, and sustainable financial practices.
Education: Master’s in Taxation, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; LL.B., Government Law College, Mumbai; Chartered Accountant, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI); Bachelor of Commerce, H.R. College of Commerce and Economics.
Shanthi is a results-oriented leader with over two decades of experience spanning finance, operations, compliance, and social impact. She transitioned to the development sector over a decade ago and founded ExempServ, a professional services organisation that supports boards, trustees, and leadership teams of social sector organisations with financial reporting, compliance, and allied services to enhance their effectiveness and impact. She also volunteers with v-shesh, works towards mainstreaming persons with disabilities, and serves as Treasurer of SOS India.
Prior to her work in the social sector, Shanthi built an extensive career in the outsourcing and shared services industry with organisations such as eFunds, Global Vantedge, Hewitt, and Mercer. Her experience spans HR administration, payroll, accounting, receivables management, consulting, and investments. She has also served as CSR Leader for Mercer India and as a global steering member representing Asia. Known for her execution focus, collaborative approach, and strong financial and compliance expertise, she brings a solution-oriented mindset to every role she undertakes.
Education: ACWAI, Institute of Cost and Work Accountants of India; B.Com (Hons), University of Delhi.
Swapnil is the Founder of Dhwani Rural Information Systems, a development-oriented technology organisation focused on providing affordable, integrated, and smart ICT tools for organisations working at the community and Base of the Pyramid (BoP) level. He is an experienced technology specialist with a strong track record of working with social sector organisations to strengthen systems and impact.
His expertise includes business planning, market research, process mapping, technology consulting, and public speaking. He works at the intersection of technology and development, enabling organisations to adopt practical digital solutions that enhance effectiveness and outreach.
Education: Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management (PGDRM) from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA).
Enrolments Open For New Cohort
Equip your board, leadership, and teams to manage compliance with clarity and confidence
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