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Collaborative Cohorts

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.

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Strengthen
Relationships

Build stronger relationships with grantees through facilitated collaboration sessions and tools that ensure alignment.

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Build Nonprofit
Capacity

Equip grantees with skill-building training around data management, reporting, and impact storytelling.

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Simplify
Reporting

Provide grantees sponsored access to tools that empower them to Define, Collect, Analyze and Leverage impact data.

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Accelerate
Growth

Empower grantees to use data to measure their impact, drive learning and improvement, and increase access to funding.

COHORTS IN ACTION

Better Relationships Better Results

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.

Ready to strengthen relationships, learn in community, and grow your impact?

If this sounds like a fit, fill out the form to express your interest in sponsoring or participating in a cohort.

Program Benefits for Grantees

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Impact Storytelling

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.

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Community Connection

Grantees engage in peer learning, shared insight exchanges, and relationship-building that expands their network—connecting with peers and grantmakers aligned in purpose.

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Capacity Building

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.

Program Details

A Collaborative Cohort can be established for as little as 10 grantees, at a cost of only $3,500 per grantee.
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Peer Learning Sessions

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.

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UpMetrics Technology

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. 

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Onboarding and Support

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.

UpMetrics' IMM Platform

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.

Funders, it's time to
meet the moment

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.

Program Benefits for Funders

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Meet nonprofits where they are today, for a better tomorrow.

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Strengthen collaboration, alignment, and communication with grantees.

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Provide technology that enables grantees to define, collect, analyze, and leverage impact data.

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Build grantee skills in data management, reporting, and impact storytelling.

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Streamline reporting for cohort participants & track outcomes across grantees.

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Empower grantees to use data to increase and diversify funding.

20+

Grantmakers have
Sponsored Cohorts

150+

Nonprofit Grantees
Supported via Cohorts

Active 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 👉

US Cohorts Map revised (1)

Chicago

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 More

Southeast Michigan

The 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

Learn More

Bay Area

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

 Learn More

Why do funders and nonprofits love our Cohorts?

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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)
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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 Experience
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UpMetrics 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 Foundation
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Participating 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 Project

Download the One-Pager

Download a copy of our Collaborative Cohort One-Pager to learn more or easily share details with your leadership team. 

Collab Cohort One Pager Title Page

 

Interested in launching or joining a Cohort program?

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.

 

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FUN FACT:

Nonprofits that participate in our cohorts increase their funding by 55.8% year over year, on average.

Cohort Program FAQs

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!

How long is a cohort?

Each Collaborative Cohort operates for 1 year, but can be extended or expanded past year one if desired.

Is there a minimum and/or maximum number of grantees required in a cohort?

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.

Can the cost of the cohort be structured as a grant?

Yes! The cost can be structured as a grant via our Data for Good Fund, managed by the Tides Foundation.

How much time will I need to dedicate to the cohort?

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. 

What resources are available to grantees throughout the program?

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.

Do nonprofit grantees get access to the full UpMetrics platform functionality?

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.

  • Impact Framework Builder
  • Data Collection and Management
  • Integrated Community Indexing Data
  • Data Analysis & Dashboards
  • Simplified Reporting
  • Impact Profile Page
How can nonprofits continue using the UpMetrics platform at the end of the cohort?

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.

What makes a great grantee partner?
  1. Excitement and a commitment to leverage data to move your mission forward through learning, data driven decision making and storytelling.

  2. Strong senior leadership that supports the partnership with UpMetrics.

  3. An internal champion that's willing to lead the engagement - both internally across teams and externally with UpMetrics. Typically the internal champion works within one of the following focus areas: 
    1. Program Operations
    2. Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation
    3. Data & Analysis
    4. Development