Quick Summary
The North Texas Food Bank partnered with Mission Advancement to run a cohort-based fundraising program for its partner agencies. Across both cohorts, 13 nonprofit organizations participated in a structured six-month engagement, leaving each with a written development plan, stronger donor strategy, and greater alignment between staff and board. The program gave NTFB a scalable, high-value way to strengthen the long-term capacity of its network.
What challenge was the North Texas Food Bank trying to solve?
Many umbrella organizations and networks want to provide more value to the nonprofits they serve. But when those organizations vary widely in size, staffing, and fundraising maturity, delivering meaningful support at scale is not simple.
The North Texas Food Bank recognized a growing need within its partner network. Many of the organizations it served were facing increased demand, economic pressure, and limited fundraising capacity. While food distribution remained central to its mission, NTFB saw that many of its partner agencies lacked the infrastructure needed to sustain and grow their work long-term.
A consistent challenge emerged across the network: most partner agencies did not have a clear, strategic approach to fundraising. Without a defined plan, they were reacting to immediate needs rather than building toward sustainability.
NTFB saw an opportunity to change that.
What did the cohort program look like?
Mission Advancement partnered with the North Texas Food Bank to design and facilitate a cohort-based strategic development program. The model was built to provide both strategic depth and practical scalability for their partner agencies at different stages of development.
The program ran twice, in 2023 and again in 2024, each following the same structure:
- A six-month engagement running May through October
- Five facilitated sessions, meeting once a month (with a July break built in)
- Six to seven partner organizations per cohort, each bringing two to three staff or board representatives
- Individual coaching alongside group sessions to address each partner agencies specific situation
- Development of a customized strategic fundraising plan for each participant
In 2023, seven partner agencies participated. In 2024, six partner agencies joined the cohort, each sending two to three representatives to every session. Across both cohorts, more than 13 nonprofits were equipped with a clearer path forward.
What did participating organizations leave with?
Through the cohort experience, participating organizations did not simply gain information. They left with practical plans, increased confidence, and greater organizational alignment around fundraising.
Each partner agency left with:
- A clear and actionable written development plan
- A defined approach to donor segmentation and relationship-based fundraising
- Greater alignment between staff and board members around fundraising priorities
- Confidence in how to approach donor engagement and long-term growth
For many participants, this was the first time fundraising had been approached in a structured and strategic way. What had previously felt unclear, or overwhelming, became defined and actionable.
What was the broader impact for NTFB?
By running this program two years in a row, the North Texas Food Bank increased the long-term fundraising capacity of its partner network in a way that direct services alone could not replicate. The cohort model gave NTFB a scalable way to support their partner agencies with very different levels of experience, all within a shared learning environment.
Mission Advancement’s continued coaching and support throughout implementation helped ensure the work did not stop when sessions ended. Participants received ongoing guidance as they began putting their plans into action.
Ultimately, the investment reflected a strategic belief that NTFB holds deeply: strengthening your partners is one of the most effective ways to increase collective mission impact.
Key Takeaways for Umbrella Organizations and Networks
- Supporting partner capacity can multiply your mission impact.
When your partners become healthier and more sustainable, your collective impact increases. - Cohort models create scalable but personalized support.
Organizations with varying needs can learn together while still receiving guidance tailored to their situation. - Fundraising training is most effective when paired with strategic planning.
Education alone is not enough. Organizations need an actionable plan they can begin implementing right away. - Third-party expertise elevates the experience.
Outside experts bring broader perspective, deeper subject matter knowledge, and credibility that internal teams may not be able to provide alone.
If your organization supports a network of nonprofits, schools, or ministries and wants to strengthen the long-term health of those partners, a cohort-based development program may be a strategic next step.
Want to explore what this kind of support could look like? Let’s chat!
