Local News & Information Ecosystem Context

This course is designed for local funders who are:

Ready to move beyond individual grantee relationships to systems-level understanding. You want to see the full landscape of actors, relationships, and dynamics shaping your funding area.

Seeking data-driven insights about your ecosystem. You need structured analysis that reveals patterns, gaps, and opportunities across your region.

Looking to inform strategic decision-making with an ecosystem perspective. You want to understand how your funding fits into the broader landscape and where strategic investments could have the greatest impact.

Committed to learning alongside peer funders. Each participating organization can bring up to three people to contribute to the course.

By the end of this four-week cohort, your team will have:

A Clear Picture of the Context of Your Local News and Information Ecosystem

You will have a clearly defined, geographically bound Local News and Information Ecosystem, as well as up to 70 data points to help you understand the context you’re working in, including demographic information, civic engagement, and community infrastructure.

Strategic Insights for Decision-Making

From this dataset, you will be able to draw insights that inform how you approach supporting the local news and information ecosystem, through funding, convening, and partnerships.

Practical Skills in Ecosystem Analysis

Build capabilities in gathering and interpreting ecosystem data, identifying strategic opportunities, and communicating systems-level insights to colleagues and boards.

Peer Learning from Mission-Aligned Funders

Exchange perspectives and questions with a cohort of local funders navigating similar challenges, fostering connections that extend beyond the program.

Duration: Four weeks

Format: Virtual cohort sessions + individual support via Zoom

Program Structure:

• Week 1: Group session (90 minutes) introducing ecosystem datasets, IA's approach to ecosystem work, and analytical frameworks

• Week 2: Individual consultation (60-90 minutes) to answer questions, work through your specific data, and identify areas of focus

• Week 3: Group session (90 minutes) to explore how ecosystem context data can be used as a baseline to document impact over the long-term.

• Week 4: Group session (90 minutes) where participants present top-line findings using a provided template deck

Between Sessions: Participating organizations will use the IA provided data template to gather their ecosystem’s context data 

Team Participation: Up to 3 staff members per foundation

Cohort Size: Minimum 3 foundations

• Cohorts are designed to foster meaningful peer exchange while providing personalized attention

Investment: $2,750 per organization

Applications open in March 2026. We'll select participants for our cohort based on organizational readiness, strategic questions, and commitment to ecosystem-informed grantmaking.

Application Requirements:

• Basic organizational information

• Brief description of your current ecosystem understanding (if any)

• What strategic questions you hope to explore through ecosystem context data

• Confirmation of team member participation

How much time will it take each week? Week 1, Week 3, and Week 4 involve 90-minute group sessions. Week 2 is a 60-90 minute individual consultation scheduled at your convenience. Between sessions, you'll have homework to gather your ecosystem’s context data and begin to draw strategic insights.

What if we can't attend all four sessions? Consistent participation is essential for cohort learning and for getting the full value of the ecosystem analysis. We'll provide recordings, but real-time engagement ensures you benefit from peer discussion and can ask questions specific to your data.

Can we bring more than three team members? To maintain productive cohort dynamics and ensure personalized attention, we limit participation to three per organization. You're welcome to share materials and insights internally.

What types of funders is this designed for? This program works for foundations of all sizes. Community foundations are particularly well-suited for this first cohort, though the approach scales to different foundation types and funding contexts.

What if we don't have any ecosystem work in place yet? Perfect! This program is designed to introduce you to ecosystem thinking and provide you with concrete data and insights you can use immediately. No prior ecosystem experience required.

How is this different from other ecosystem mapping approaches? Impact Architects brings deep expertise in ecosystem analysis specific to social change work. You'll receive not just data, but interpreted insights tailored to your funding context, plus guidance on how to apply ecosystem thinking strategically.