Peer Learning Cohorts

Solve data challenges with peers

About the Cohorts

The Data Capacity Cohort is a six-session, three month applied learning program designed to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations. This cohort program builds from the Nonprofit 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.

Our Promise. Your Commitment.

0

sessions over three months

0hrs

virtual interactive workshop every two weeks

4-0hrs

per month of participant time

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participants — space is limited

See Cohort Dates

Why This Matters

A program about discovery, not judgment.

Data challenges are systemic in the nonprofit sector. By joining the cohort, you’ll:

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Get access to a supportive and shared learning environment

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Build your organizational data capacity

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Receive coaching and support to help you action your work

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Work collectively with peers on shared data challenges

Together, the cohort helps you identify realistic, feasible, and actionable solutions tailored to your organization.

See What to Expect
The Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR)

Join a Cohort

We’re piloting two rounds of this cohort program in Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 with a focus on the Practical Journey. Sessions will be held virtually between 10 am and 12 pm MT.

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 team using this contact us form.

Cohort 1 Dates
Cohort 2 Dates
Data Capacity Navigator Peer Learning Cohort 1 Dates
Data Capacity Navigator Peer Learning Cohort 2 Dates
See Inside the Cohorts

What to Expect

Participants should expect to spend approximately 4-6 hours per month over three months.

The Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR)

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.

The Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR)

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.

The Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR)

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.

Join a Cohort

Inside the Cohort

Cohorts are 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 should be open to learning alongside peers from other nonprofits and have some organizational access and mandate to take action on what they learn. The cohort is focused on building organizational data capacity.

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

      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 nonprofit organizations
      • Understand their organization’s current data maturity by completing a Data Maturity Assessment
      • Identified goals for the cohort and for the future

      Activities

      • Completed Data Maturity Assessment for their organization
      • Completed goals for the cohort and for the future

      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 nonprofit organizations typically collect and what makes it more or less risky
      • Clearer understanding of what kinds of data your organization holds
      • Create a data inventory, both for the organization and/or for specific programs or areas
      • Create process maps to identify data flows and improvement opportunities

      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 nonprofit 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
      • Create an organizational digital tool and system inventory
      • Identify requirements for tools and technology for their organization

      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, to address identified gaps

      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
      • Create a strategic action plan for next steps for data capacity development

      Activities

      • Action plan document completed or in progress
      • Feedback and reflection form completed
      Join a Cohort

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