Non-Profit & NGO · Singapore

Leadership Development for Singapore's non-profit sector.

For charities, foundations, and social enterprises. Executive director coaching, board chair development, programme team coaching. At pricing the sector can sustain.

The Context

The mission is at the heart of the work. Leaders are the driving force behind the mission.

Non-profit leaders shoulder a unique burden. They balance a powerful mission, a board with strong opinions, a programme team focused on beneficiary impact, and an ever-tightening funding landscape. Effective coaching addresses all these realities, rather than overlooking any of them.

Why this matters

Leaders must sustain the mission and find sustenance in it as well.

Non-profit leadership exists within constant tension. The mission demands everything, funding often falls short, boards are more hands-on than in the corporate world, and closely aligned teams bring both deep loyalty and challenging conversations.

The system

Mission. Board. Team. Funding.

Four forces move together. A mission worth carrying. A board closer to the work than most corporate boards. A team that brings deep loyalty and difficult conversations. A funding environment asking more every year. The leader operates inside all four at once.

The right approach

Coaching that treats the mission as central, not background.

Coaching in this sector must treat the mission as central, not as background. The approach focuses on what leaders need to sustain themselves in service of the mission, even addressing the aspects the mission itself can sometimes overlook.

The method

Three-Pillar Clarity Method™, designed for this context.

Forensic Diagnosis examines the leadership system as a whole. Strategic Clarity pinpoints the decisions that matter most for the mission, not just for the organisation. Pressure & Recovery recognises the unique demands that mission-driven work places on leaders over time.

Read the methodology →

Engagement Structures

Four engagement structures to match your needs.

Most engagements combine these structures, tailored to your objectives and budget. Scope and pricing are always clearly defined from the start.

01 · Leader

Executive Director & CEO Coaching

6-9 sessions · 3-9 months

Confidential 1-to-1 coaching for the leader carrying the mission. Often used during a strategic review, a leadership transition, or a period of sustained pressure.

Discuss leader coaching →

02 · Board

Board Chair & Trustee Development

Engagement-specific · scoped to brief

Coaching support for board chairs and trustees, including chair coaching, board effectiveness work, and chair-CEO relationship support. Particularly useful through governance transitions or board renewal.

Discuss board work →

03 · Team

Programme Team Coaching

Intact teams · 3-9 months

Team coaching for intact programme or leadership teams. Builds collective decision-making capacity, surfaces undiscussables, and develops the team's ability to hold mission pressure together.

Discuss team coaching →

04 · Individual

Sponsored 1-to-1 Coaching

Single CEO or Executive Director · 3 to 9 months · individually scoped

One-to-one executive coaching for a designated CEO, Executive Director, or senior programme leader. Funded by the organisation, or via a development grant where applicable. Common pathways: leaders preparing for a major institutional transition, a fundraising cycle, or a board chair handover.

Discuss sponsored coaching →

Pricing

Subsidised pricing.
Agreed in writing.

Subsidised pricing is offered on a case-by-case basis to reflect the economics of non-profit and NGO budgets. The level of subsidy is agreed at scoping, in writing, before engagement begins.

We are explicit about what is included and what is not, and about the basis on which the subsidy is offered. The intention is to make the work accessible, not to obscure how the work is priced.

Where an institutional funder is willing to underwrite leadership development for a portfolio of grantees, we can structure cohort engagements at sector-appropriate pricing across the portfolio.

FAQ

Frequently asked.

Common questions from non-profit and NGO buyers. If yours isn't here, ask directly.

Do you work with non-profit and NGO clients?

Yes. We deliver leadership development for charities, foundations, and social enterprises in Singapore and the region. Subsidised pricing is available on request.

How is subsidised pricing structured?

Subsidised pricing is offered on a case-by-case basis to reflect the economics of non-profit budgets. The level of subsidy is agreed at scoping, in writing, before engagement. We are explicit about what is included and what is not.

What does non-profit leadership development typically include?

Executive director and CEO 1-to-1 coaching, board chair and trustee development, programme team coaching, Leadership Circle Profile 360°, and sponsored 1-to-1 coaching for designated senior leaders. See the engagement structures above. Engagement details on enquiry.

Can a funder underwrite coaching for a portfolio of grantees?

Yes. Where an institutional funder is willing to underwrite leadership development across a portfolio, we can structure cohort engagements at sector-appropriate pricing. This is a useful way to lift the leadership of a grantee portfolio without each organisation carrying the cost individually.

Are engagements mission-aligned?

Yes. We work on what the leader needs to sustain in service of the mission, not against it. The coaching frame is the leader inside the mission, not the leader as a generic individual.

Is Gary McRae ICF accredited?

Yes. Gary holds ICF accreditation (ACC), with PCC in progress. He is also Leadership Circle Profile certified, MBA qualified, and MBSR trained. See the profile.

How does this compare to the wider Corporate page?

The Corporate page covers the full range of organisational engagements across private, public, and non-profit sectors. This page focuses on the non-profit sector specifically. The method, methodology, and coach are the same.

Begin

Tell us what your mission needs the leader to carry.

A scoping conversation is a working session. Bring the real version of where the leadership is, not the version that has been managed for the funder. We work out what is actually happening and what kind of engagement, if any, fits within the organisation's budget. There is no pitch deck.