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The Nonprofit Cooperative

The Nonprofit Cooperative

Phone number
none
Category
Nonprofit
Auto tags
Eligibility
Any U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit. National scope, not Nevada County–only. Free for nonprofits; for-profit vendor tracks are separate and paid.
Auto Summary
Free national membership network for U.S. nonprofits (especially small/mid-size, budgets under $1M). Run by the Nonprofit Collective Foundation in NYC. Members get peer-to-expert roundtables, free workshops and bootcamps, a SmartMatch vendor service, a mentor program, and grant alerts via SVP NYC (registration does not guarantee funding). Register at thenonprofitcooperative.org/register. Verified 2026-05-30
Value
Free training, peer roundtables, vetted vendor matching, and SVP NYC grant-window alerts.
Espanol
Espanol: La Cooperativa Sin Fines de Lucro
URL
https://www.thenonprofitcooperative.org/join
Last verified 2026-05-17
The Nonprofit Cooperative (TNC) is a free national membership network for nonprofits, run by the Nonprofit Collective Foundation (NCF). It is built for small and mid-size grassroots nonprofits — typically those with annual budgets under $1 million — that need training, peer support, and vetted vendors but can't afford to pay for them. [Source: thenonprofitcooperative.org/what-is-the-nonprofit-collective-foundation-ncf-and-its-mission (accessed 2026-05-17)]
This is a national program based in New York City, not a Nevada County or California-only group. Any U.S.-based 501(c)(3) can join.

Who can join

  • Any U.S. nonprofit (501(c)(3) or equivalent).
  • Membership is called "Nonprofit Associate."
  • There is no budget cap to join, but TNC's programs are aimed at small and mid-size nonprofits.
  • For-profit vendors join through a separate paid track called Cooperative Member (CM) or Small Business Member (SBM) — that is not what nonprofits sign up for.

What you get — free

  • Networking with Intention events — monthly and bi-monthly meet-ups where nonprofit staff connect with peers in a structured, low-pressure format.
  • Peer-to-Expert Cohort roundtables — small-group discussions on a chosen topic, mixing nonprofit members with vetted experts. Older versions of this program were split into Executive Director, Senior Staff, and Board Member roundtables.
  • Training — one-hour Workshops, three-hour Bootcamps, and Lunch-and-Learn sessions. Topics rotate; the full schedule is on the foundation calendar.
  • SmartMatch — a matching service that connects you with vetted vendors (insurance, IT, accounting, fundraising tools, etc.) so you don't waste money on the wrong provider.
  • Mentor Program — pairs newer nonprofit staff and emerging executives with seasoned nonprofit leaders.
  • Trusted Impact Rewards — a points program that recognizes member participation.
  • SVP NYC grant alerts — TNC partners with Social Venture Partners NYC and notifies members when grant windows open. Registration does not guarantee funding. [Source: thenonprofitcooperative.org/join (accessed 2026-05-17)]

How to join

  1. Go to thenonprofitcooperative.org/register.
  1. Have ready: your nonprofit's logo, your mission statement, and login credentials if you've registered before.
  1. Approval is usually quick — TNC describes the signup as "less than 2 minutes."
  1. After approval, log in to access the member training library, event RSVPs, and the SmartMatch tool.

Common pitfalls

  • Don't expect direct grants. TNC itself doesn't write checks. The value is training, peer connections, and grant alerts through SVP NYC.
  • Most training is members-only. You have to log in to see the course catalog, so create the account before judging whether it's worth it.
  • Vendor side is paid. If a for-profit business is reading this looking to sell to nonprofits, that's a separate (paid) Cooperative Member track.
  • Watch for the right domain. The website is thenonprofitcooperative.org. The parent foundation is at ncf-foundation.org. Both are legitimate; older content links to either.

Where to get help

Sources