Thrive Cohort

Thrive Cohort

In 2020, the Community Foundation was looking for new ways to support emerging nonprofit organizations and advance racial equity in Linn County. As grassroots groups responded to the pandemic and derecho, an opportunity emerged to make progress on both goals simultaneously. In early 2021, the Thrive Cohort was launched to bring together Black, Brown, and Biracial nonprofit leaders for relationship-building, networking, and learning. The goal is to help nonprofit organizations close the racial leadership gap and diversify staff and managerial teams.

Five leaders of emerging organizations were selected to participate in the initial cohort, which met monthly for two years to engage in discussions and learning activities on a range of topics related to building nonprofit organizations. Local leaders served as guest facilitators, and each member’s organization received a quarterly $2,500 grant for general operating support. Many organizations use these grants for overhead, programming, and even educational costs for their leadership. The grants—and the sentiment behind them—were often transformational. 

The inaugural Thrive Cohort discussed their experiences during a 2022 Community Learning Series, and you can view that event here. 

2025 Thrive Cohort

In 2025, the Community Foundation continues a commitment to support Black, Brown, and Bi-racial leaders in the nonprofit sector through the Thrive Cohort.

Thrive Cohort offers relationship building, networking, and learning for nonprofit professionals to foster career development within the sector. This initiative is part of the Community Foundation’s efforts to advance racial equity by helping nonprofit organizations close the racial leadership gap and diversify nonprofit staff and managerial teams.

The Community Foundation will provide general operating support grants to organizations that are supporting Thrive Cohort members.

Please complete the Indication of Interest form (below) by January 10 to be considered for the 2025 Thrive Cohort.

Eligibility

• Thrive is intended to support BIPOC nonprofit professionals; if you are not sure if you are eligible, we encourage you to complete the Indication of Interest form.
• Thrive is open to employees of nonprofit organizations that serve Linn County and founders/leaders/volunteers of grassroots organizations who are not employees but are investing significant time and resources into the organization. Board members are not eligible.
• Previous Thrive Cohort members are not eligible.

Nomination & Selection

We invite potential Cohort members to complete the Indication of Interest form by January 10. Our staff will follow up with all interested via phone call to ask five follow-up questions.

Between 8 and 12 nonprofit professionals will be selected to participate in the 2025 Thrive Cohort.

Several considerations will impact the selection of Cohort members. These may include: meeting the eligibility requirements, representation of various backgrounds and organization size/sector, nonprofit experience, and future goals. Up to two members per organization may participate. Cohort members commit to participating in eight meetings in 2025.

Expectations

Thrive Cohort members are expected to:

• Actively participate in eight meetings in 2025. Meetings will be held on the first Thursday of the month from 9 to 11 a.m. March through November (optional social in July).
• Engage in regular communication with fellow cohort members and Community Foundation staff.

Benefits

• Cohort members will experience a mix of intentional learning and connection throughout the year.
• Each participant’s organization will receive $2,000 in general operating support grants ($1,000 paid in March 2025; $1,000 paid in October 2025).