Nonprofit Data Capacity Cohort
Sign upWhat is the cohort?
The Data Capacity Cohort is a six-session, three month applied learning program designed to build the capacity of non-profit organizations to support more successful digital transformations and technology implementation. This cohort program builds from the Non-Profit Data Journey Maps. In this cohort program, organizations will be guided through the activities for first two milestones in the journey maps: Know and Assess. Each cohort will focus on a different journey across three interrelated areas: People, Purpose, and Practical.
Organizations will be supported through a structured and guided process of assessing their current data and technology landscape, understanding the possibilities for the future, identifying challenges and possible solutions, both human and technical, and determining a feasible action plan to address data challenges tailored to their organization.
Why Join the Cohort?
Get access to a supportive and shared learning environment, build your organizational data capacity, and receive coaching and support to help you action your work.
This program is about discovery, not judgment. Data challenges are systemic in the non-profit sector. The cohort brings a group of folks together to collectively work on data challenges at their organizations and to identify realistic, feasible, and actionable solutions tailored to your organization.
What Are the Benefits?
- Meet a network of folks with similar challenges
- Build your organizational data capacity
- Receive support and coaching to help action your work
- Develop a data action plan, tailored to your organization
- Learn by practicing, doing, and talking it through with a group
What to Expect
By participating in the cohort, you can expect:
- A 2-hour virtual interactive workshop every two weeks: these workshops will include foundational learning, hands on activities, and time for peer support and connection. These workshops are scheduled bi-weekly so that participants have time in between sessions to apply what they've learned in their organizations and gather more information.
- Light pre-work and post-work in between sessions: To get the most out of the cohort, participants should anticipate completing some work outside of the sessions. All activities are practical, hands on, and build upon each other to set organizations up to implement identified solutions after the cohort ends.
- Peer support and coaching: Optional facilitator office hours available for drop in coaching in between sessions and peer support community online to ask questions and keep building momentum.
Participants should expect to spend approximately 4–6 hours per month over three months.
Is This Program Right for You?
This cohort is designed for staff at nonprofit organizations who work with data in any capacity — whether you're just starting out or looking to strengthen existing practices. You do not need a technical background to participate. You should be open to learning alongside peers from other nonprofits and have some organizational access and mandate to take action on what they learn.
This may include staff with titles such as but not limited to:
- Program Managers and Directors
- Data Analysts and Evaluation Specialists
- Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinators
- Operations Managers
- Anyone responsible for data collection, analysis, or reporting, either for your organization or for specific programs
You may be a good fit if your organization:
- Collects or is planning to collect data on programs, clients, or outcomes but isn't sure how to use it effectively
- Is considering a new technology or data system and wants to build internal capacity first
- Wants to better understand its current data landscape before making decisions
- Is ready to invest time in structured learning and peer connection
The cohort is focused on building organizational data capacity rather than professional development for staff. There may still be professional development opportunities through the process of participating in the cohort.
What are the dates?
We're piloting two rounds of this cohort program in Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 with a focus on the Practical Journey.
| Topic | Cohort 1 Dates | Cohort 2 Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | September 13, 2026 | January 12, 2027 |
| Knowing your data | September 29, 2026 | January 26, 2027 |
| Knowing your tools | October 13, 2026 | February 9, 2027 |
| Assessing your gaps, identifying your opportunities, and imagining solutions | October 27, 2026 | February 23, 2027 |
| Planning your next steps | November 10, 2026 | March 9, 2027 |
| Bringing it all together & cohort showcase | November 24, 2026 | March 23, 2027 |
What Will Participants and Organizations Get at the End?
Knowledge
By the end of these 6 sessions, participants will, on behalf of their organization, have:
- a clearer understanding of what data the organization holds, what it is used for, and what value it has to the organization
- a clearer understanding of what digital tools and systems are being used across the organization
- identified key gaps and risks related to the organization's data and tools
- identified a possible solution and next steps to improve the organization's data and tools
Skills
By the end of these 6 sessions, participants will be able to:
- Assess their organization's current data maturity level using the Data Orchard framework
- Complete a data inventory, both for the organization and for specific programs or areas
- Create process maps to identify data flows and improvement opportunities
- Complete an organizational digital tool and system inventory
- Identify requirements for tools and technology for their organization
- Identify specific gaps and opportunities to improve data and tools
- Brainstorm potential solutions and strategies to address identified gaps
- Prioritize solutions based on organizational impact and feasibility
- Create a strategic action plan for next steps for data capacity development
Outputs
Participants will walk away with core documents and processes to keep building their organizational data capacity including:
- a started or completed data inventory
- a started or completed data process map
- a started or completed digital tool inventory
- a started or completed list of requirements
- a started or completed gap assessment
- a started or completed solution matrix
- a started or completed action plan
What Does the Cohort Cover?
Session 1: Getting Started
Description
- Introductions and getting to know each other
- Assessing where your organization is currently at and where you want to go
Intended Outcomes
- Clearer understanding of data maturity journeys for non-profit organizations
- Identified goals for the cohort and for the future
Activities
- Completed Data Maturity Assessment for their organization
- Completed goals
Session 2: Knowing Your Data
Description
- Building shared language around data
- Understanding what kinds of data are often collected and used
- Documenting your data
Intended Outcomes
- Clearer understanding of the kinds of data non-profit organizations typically collect and what makes it more or less risky
- Clearer understanding of what kinds of data your organization holds through developing a data inventory and a data process map
Activities
- Data Inventory started for a) all organizational data and b) for one key program
- Data process map started for one key process
Session 3: Knowing Your Tools
Description
- Building shared language around tools and technology
- Understanding what digital tools can and cannot do and when you may need to consider other options to address your challenges
- Understanding how to evaluate digital tools to support your goals
Intended Outcomes
- Clearer understanding of what kinds of digital tools and technology are available and being used at non-profit organizations
- Clearer understanding of what kinds of digital tools are being used currently at their organizations
- Clearer understanding of what their tools and technology needs are
Activities
- Tools Inventory started for one key program
- List of requirements started for one key program
Session 4: Assessing Your Gaps, Identifying Your Opportunities, and Imagining Solutions
Description
- Analyzing gaps between data inventory and tool inventory
- Identifying challenges and opportunities in data process map
- Generating and exploring potential solutions to identified gaps
Intended Outcomes
- Clearer understanding of gaps, risks, and opportunities for their data and tools
- Identified range of possible solutions, both human and technical, for root challenges
Activities
- Gaps and opportunities assessment started for one key program
- Solutions inventory started
Session 5: Planning Your Next Steps
Description
- You don't have to do everything, you just have to start — deciding what to do next and building a realistic data action plan
Intended Outcomes
- Clearer understanding of how to prioritize solutions
- Identified priorities for action based on feasibility and impact
- Clearer understanding of how to document decisions
Activities
- Solutions prioritization matrix started
- Action plan document started
Session 6: Bringing It All Together & Cohort Showcase
Description
- Celebrating where you started and where you got to
- Understanding how you can use this work in other ways and the iterative nature of the data maturity journey
- Creating sustainable change
Intended Outcomes
- Clearer understanding of next steps and how to action their work
- Identified next steps
Activities
- Action plan document completed or in progress
- Feedback and reflection form completed
Sign Up
Interested in joining the next cohort? We'd love to have you. Registration for the current cohort is coming soon. The next intake is expected to begin [Date TBD].
To register, complete the expression of interest form below.
The cohort will be capped at 15 participants to support optimal engagement. Space is limited. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
If you have questions about the cohort, reach out to the program team at [contact email TBD].
What Happens After You sign up?
We will review applications and reach out with next steps shortly.
Check out the rest of the Nonprofit Data Capacity Navigator resources and supports to help build your organizational capacity to use, manage, and analyze data.