Mockingbird Nonprofit Incubator Program

The Mockingbird Nonprofit Incubator Program is a cohort-based initiative by Mockingbird Incubator aimed at supporting emerging nonprofit founders in establishing and growing sustainable organizations. Developed by Mockingbird Analytics, a research and evaluation firm, this program addresses the many complexities faced by new nonprofits, including legal compliance, board development, fundraising, and effective marketing. With over a decade of experience working with nonprofits at different stages, the Mockingbird team created this incubator to guide founders through essential operational skills needed to make a measurable community impact. The program runs over eight weeks and consists of weekly online workshops focused on various core aspects of nonprofit management. These include strategic planning, board engagement, fundraising strategy, donor engagement, marketing, program design, evaluation, and equity integration. One workshop is specifically hosted by the partner organization Givebutter, which also reviews each participant’s fundraising campaign and offers tools to support donor engagement. Additional office hours supplement the workshops to offer tailored support. Thanks to the support of Givebutter, 20 organizations are awarded full scholarships to participate in the incubator. Furthermore, participants may apply for up to $4,000 in grant funds upon program completion, and one participant will be selected to receive a $3,000 seed grant based on criteria such as innovation, sustainability, and community impact. This seed grant is reviewed and awarded by Mockingbird Incubator’s Board of Directors. These funding opportunities are contingent on completing the program and are not available to individuals or organizations that do not participate fully. The incubator is open to founders of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or those under fiscal sponsorship who are incorporated and operate within the United States. The program prioritizes founders working on causes aligned with social justice and equity. It explicitly excludes religious proselytizing organizations, booster clubs for government bodies, tech-platform-only initiatives, and entities with discriminatory, anti-science, or conspiracy-driven missions. While participation is virtual and not geographically limited, applicants must be familiar with U.S.-based nonprofit operations. The next cycle of the program is scheduled to open applications in January 2026 for the Spring 2026 cohort, with weekly Friday sessions from 10 AM to 12 PM PST / 1 PM to 3 PM EST. Participants must commit to attending all sessions and completing assignments. To be considered for the program, organizations must have or create a Givebutter account. Additional benefits include access to a digital learning platform, discounted future events, and a growing alumni network. No PDF application document is provided online, and additional inquiries are directed to Mockingbird Incubator’s contact page. Interested applicants are encouraged to join the waitlist for updates about the upcoming application cycle.

Demonstrate sustainability and innovation; board prioritizes plans with measurable community impact.