Our Collaborative Cohort program is a transformative grant opportunity that allows funders to invest in nonprofits by providing the tools and training they need to not only build stability and resiliency, but to thrive.
By equipping grantees with essential data skills, powerful measurement tools, and a space to learn and grow together, our funders and nonprofits build stronger, more collaborative relationships, advance equity, unlock actionable insights, and grow their impact faster.
Build stronger relationships with grantees through facilitated collaboration sessions and tools that ensure alignment.
Equip grantees with skill-building training around data management, reporting, and impact storytelling.
Provide grantees sponsored access to tools that empower them to Define, Collect, Analyze and Leverage impact data.
Empower grantees to use data to measure their impact, drive learning and improvement, and increase access to funding.
COHORTS IN ACTION
Our Collaborative Cohort model helps grantmakers and their grantees to use data, technology, and community to build stronger relationships and drive effective systems-level change.
But what does that really mean in practice?
Watch this video from our recent Bay Area Cohort meetup to hear how the program is impacting funders and grantees alike.
If this sounds like a fit, fill out the form to express your interest in sponsoring or participating in a cohort.
Grantees receive tools, guidance, and support to define their impact, collect meaningful data, and tell compelling stories that resonate with funders, stakeholders, and communities—amplifying both individual and collective voices.
Grantees engage in peer learning, shared insight exchanges, and relationship-building that expands their network—connecting with peers and grantmakers aligned in purpose.
Grantees learn data-backed practices for effective philanthropy and hone skills tailored to their organizational context to build resilience and anti-fragility into their operating model.
Grantees learn and grow with other nonprofits navigating similar challenges. These facilitated sessions focus on real-time problem solving, shared experiences, and practical skill-building.
Funders and grantees both receive a one-year subscription to the UpMetrics platform - an industry-leading tool to collect, analyze, and communicate impact data—all in one place.
Participants receive training and are supported every step of the way to ensure you’re set up for success and equipped to sustain the work long-term.
Funders and sponsored grantees both receive access to the UpMetrics IMM Suite, while funders also receive select roll-up data from grantees.
To explore the platform's powerful features, check out our interactive demo.
Your grantees are doing meaningful work—but we both know that mission alone isn’t enough to ensure long-term stability.
That’s why our Collaborative Cohorts focus on teaching the skills that matter most: data storytelling, fundraising strategy, and collaboration. Combined with peer learning sessions and hands-on support, it’s a powerful way to future-proof their organizations.
Your role is simple: select the location or issue area you want to focus on and the number of grantees you'd like to support, and we handle the rest—onboarding, facilitation, and impact tracking included.
It could be the most impactful grant you make this year.
Meet nonprofits where they are today, for a better tomorrow.
Strengthen collaboration, alignment, and communication with grantees.
Provide technology that enables grantees to define, collect, analyze, and leverage impact data.
Build grantee skills in data management, reporting, and impact storytelling.
Streamline reporting for cohort participants & track outcomes across grantees.
Empower grantees to use data to increase and diversify funding.
Grantmakers have
Sponsored Cohorts
Nonprofit Grantees
Supported via Cohorts
Since inception, we've activated cohorts in more than 10 communities across the United States, servicing over 500,000 community members and covering all major thematic areas.
Take a look at our active cohorts for 2025 👉
The Chicago Cohort was spearheaded by the Foglia Family Foundation in 2018, and has supported more than 75 grantees since that time.
Active Funders: The Cohort is currently celebrating its 5th year of being funded by three foundations: Foglia Family Foundation, IMC Chicago Charitable Foundation, and Christopher Family Foundation.
Current Grantees: 16
Learn MoreThe Southeast Michigan Community Impact Cohort is designed to strengthen nonprofit capacity, drive data-informed decision-making, and deepen social impact across Michigan’s Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
Active Funders: Ballmer Group
Current Grantees: 30
The Bay Area Cohort was created in UpMetrics' home base to support nonprofit organizations with programs primarily serving Bay Area community residents.
Active Funders: The Cohort is currently funded by five foundations: Quest Foundation, Walther Family Foundation, O'Brien Family Foundation, Morgan Family Charitable, and the Payne Family Foundation.
Current Grantees: 5
The best part about the Cohort is hearing about challenges other organizations are facing and what solutions they've found for themselves.
I feel like I'm learning something new to bring back to R.O.C.K. after each session, and I really hope I'm leading others with some of our lessons learned as well.
Curt Yagi
Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K)Working with UpMetrics has helped our organization level-up data management and reporting. They provide step-by-step instructions and great ideas for structuring our data sets.
We are thankful to have been a part of this Cohort and are excited about the future of data reporting for our key stakeholders.
Brittney Robbins
The Grey Matter ExperienceUpMetrics has helped our grantees gain insight into the quality of their own work and see the impact they're making in the lives of the people they serve. It has helped them understand their story and tell it better than they could before.
Clare Butterfield
Christopher Family FoundationParticipating in a Cohort has given us the space to evaluate how we think about our data. It will certainly mature us as an organization.
Rebecca Monro
The GenderCool ProjectDownload a copy of our Collaborative Cohort One-Pager to learn more or easily share details with your leadership team.
Let's Connect!
Complete the form to register your interest in either launching a Collaborative Cohort for existing or new grantees, or joining an upcoming cohort as a grantee.
Nonprofits that participate in our cohorts increase their funding by 55.8% year over year, on average.
Still have questions about our cohort programs? Feel free to reach out - we'd love to discuss how we can work together to drive collective impact!
Each Collaborative Cohort operates for 1 year, but can be extended or expanded past year one if desired.
The minimum number of grantees required to launch a collaborative cohort is 10. The maximum number is 50, but multiple cohorts can be launched simultaneously.
Yes! The cost can be structured as a grant via our Data for Good Fund, managed by the Tides Foundation.
Funders will have the option, but will not be required, to participate in onboarding (est. 2hrs) and two learning sessions (two half days) alongside the cohort.
The program provides grantees access to the UpMetrics platform and help center content, as well as training and onboarding sessions to guide them through their data journey.
They will also be invited to cohort-specific community events to get to know their fellow grantees, as well as UpMetrics' Impact Learning Collective sessions.
Yes, sponsored nonprofit grantees will receive full access to the UpMetrics IMM Suite - Professional Edition, which includes all features needed for measuring the impact of their programs and communicating that impact to their grantors and community stakeholders.
Nonprofits can choose to retain their platform access via an annual subscription (pricing can be found here). Funders can also choose to sponsor the platform on their nonprofits' behalf.