For Sponsors
& Funders

Let’s Build Sustainable, Low-Burden Learning Systems Together

Strengthen Grantee Evaluation Capacity Without Increasing Burden.

Nonprofits across arts, health, and community wellbeing are navigating increased demand, reduced staffing, and growing pressure to demonstrate impact. Many know their programs are meaningful but lack the infrastructure to translate lived experience into learning that funders can use.

At the same time, funders are seeking ways to support grantees more effectively—without adding reporting burden, extracting data, or relying on rigid metrics that don’t reflect real work.

Sponsored DataStory Workshop cohorts offer a practical, values-aligned response.

Outcome Studio’s DataStory Workshops provide shared evaluation learning infrastructure that helps grantees strengthen their own capacity while supporting funders' learning, clarity, and alignment across a portfolio.

Why Funders Sponsor DataStory Cohorts

1. Build Evaluation Capacity at Scale

A single sponsored cohort supports 10-20 people in building sustainable evaluation systems they can carry forward—reducing long-term dependence on consultants and one-off reporting.

Participants learn to:

Clarify outcomes in language that remains true to their work
Design low-burden, culturally responsive data collection
Use data for learning, storytelling, and program improvement

This is capacity that compounds over time.

2. Improve Outcome Clarity Without Increasing Reporting
Grantees replace fragmented or duplicative reporting with:

Stories of Change
Journey Maps
Simple, meaningful data tools

Funders gain clearer insight into impact without requiring longer reports, new metrics, or additional compliance layers.

3. Create Shared Learning Infrastructure
Sponsored cohorts support shared learning across organizations through:

Common outcome language (not standardization)
Reflection prompts and learning questions
Light-touch documentation practices
Peer learning across programs, regions, or portfolios

This strengthens alignment and coherence while respecting organizational autonomy.

4. Support Trust-Based, Community-Centered Grantmaking
Evaluation becomes a tool for learning and relationship-building, not surveillance.

What Sponsors Receive

Sponsors receive portfolio-level learning, not individual organizational data.

You can expect:

A cohort summary highlighting participant outcomes and shared learning themes
Insight into common outcomes and challenges across grantees
Lighter reporting burden across your portfolio
Stronger relationships rooted in clarity, care, and shared language
Practical documentation and check-in tools for staff use

Important:

Grantees retain full ownership of their data, tools, and stories
Sponsors do not receive access to raw data, drafts, or internal materials
Any sharing by grantees is voluntary and lightweight

Sponsorship Models & Pricing

All sponsorship models are designed to support shared learning, reduce inequities in who can access evaluation training, and strengthen grantmaking ecosystems.

Seating is capped at 20 participants per cohort to ensure everyone receives tailored support and direct engagement with the facilitators.

1-9

seats

Individual Sponsorship

For major donors or other sponsors looking to support a single organization.
• 1-9 seats: $1,200

10-14

seats

Partial Cohort Sponsorship

For funders and other sponsors looking to build the capacity of their own cohort.
• 10-14 seats: $1,050 each (10% discount)

15-19

seats

Majority Cohort Sponsorship

• 15-19 seats: $950 each (20% discount)

20

seats

Dedicated Cohort

A full 20-person cohort custom-tailored to your portfolio or region.
• 20 seats: $19,000

10-20

seats

Joint Funder–Grantee Cohort

Funders and grantees learn together, building shared language and expectations. You must have at least 10 participants, including at least 1 staff member.
• 10-14 seats: $1,050 each
• 15-20 seats: $950 each

Add Ons

Optional Year of Coaching

To support grantees (and staff) implementing the new evaluation learning plan. 1 year of coaching up to 25 hours with access to the alumni network. Registrants must complete the DataStory Workshops first.

$500 per seat

Additional Services

Trust-Based Learning Lab (Add-On)

Workshop and coaching for funder staff to develop organizational and shared learning infrastructure for programs and low-burden evaluation practices. In-person or virtual workshop with 5 hours of virtual coaching after the workshop. Up to 15 people.

• $5000 per organization

Evaluation Capacity Tune-Up

We’ll review your current evaluation system and practices, including data collection practices, and recommend changes to improve data quality and streamline your processes. And we’ll provide 5 hours of coaching to make sure you’re supported while making changes.

• $5000 per organization

What Funders Receive

Cohort reports summarizing participant outcomes and identifying common outcomes across grantees.
Lighter reporting burden across your portfolio
Stronger relationships rooted in clarity and care
Functional documentation and check-in practices to support staff
A more consistent, aligned understanding of impact across your portfolio — without adding burden to grantees or staff.