From Cohort To Community (Old)

Your TPW Journey

TPW brings the best of transformative learning experiences, a vibrant and dynamic community of global changemakers, and a platform for collaboration and collective action.

In your first year, you will join the TPW Cohort, our signature linear learning journey built on over 25 years of experience in strategic philanthropy education. The Cohort is designed to equip you with the core principles, knowledge, and skills you need to have impact in the world, and to help you form accountability partners who will support and energize you on the journey ahead.

You will then move from learning to action in our TPW Community, encompassing a diverse range of member- and partner-led programs. Home to an abundance of experience, talent and ambition, the TPW Community will support your continuous learning, inspiration and progress for years to come.

All TPW programs are based on the Strategic Roadmap and our Community Culture of trust and challenge. Read below to learn more:

The TPW Cohort: Learning with trusted peers

The TPW Cohort is designed to equip you with the core principles, knowledge, and skills you need to have impact in the world. You will experience the Cohort with an intimate group of peers, with regular opportunities to share advice, challenge one another and build unique and trusted relationships.

The Cohort consists of three virtual programs with the following objectives:

Accelerator: to learn core principles and practices, find your philanthropic purpose and begin shaping your strategy.
Advancing Strategy: to learn how to implement strategy and go deeper on your role as a social investor.
Action Planning: to get feedback from peers on your strategic direction and layout your path for the year ahead in the TPW Community and beyond.

TPW members can revisit any of these programs at any point, but there will also be exclusive opportunities for the Cohort to take stock, share learnings and move forward. The principles and practices taught during the Cohort are relevant to all social investors regardless of your approach, funding area, or experience level. Each program is capped to ensure intimacy and confidentiality.

Beyond the three Cohort programs, we highly recommend joining the following in your first year:

Global Convenings: the Summit takes place in person in March, bringing the whole Community together with sector partners to share big ideas and accelerate systemic collaboration. The Gathering takes place virtually in October, is exclusive to TPW members, and provides an intimate space for storytelling, peer connections, and calls to action.
Learning Journeys: taking place in-person in May and November, located across the world and closer to home, TPW’s Journeys take you on a deep dive into a specific case study, helping you get proximate and learn from practitioners on the frontlines.

TPW runs two Cohorts per year: the Spring Cohort beginning with the Accelerator in February, and the Autumn Cohort beginning with the Accelerator in September.

The TPW Community: Putting learning into practice

TPW exists to help social investors move more resources faster and more strategically. Having completed the Cohort and set your foundations, you can join a number of Community programs to go deeper on particular themes and approaches.

Skill Sessions: 60-90 minute workshops led by experts and peers, helping you get practical tools and advice to help you design and implement your strategy.
Spotlight Talks: talks from experts from across the world on the biggest systemic challenges and opportunities of our time, and the role of social investors in supporting progress and justice. Shared with the sector as a podcast series, TPW members can join live and participate in exclusive Q&A sessions with expert speakers.

You can also join peer groups and convenings based on region or cause area, helping you find your philanthropic home within the TPW Community.

Regional Convenings: opportunities to connect and collaborate with peers in your region, including virtual Breakfast Clubs, in-person receptions, deep dives and local site visits.
Action Labs: groups of members united by a shared thematic interest or ambition, who meet regularly and collaborate towards a shared set of goals.

While many new TPW members choose to complete the Cohort and only then engage with Community programs in order to participate with a clearer sense of their philanthropic purpose and strategy, there is no obligation to do so, and these programs are open to all TPW members.

The 9 program types above are just the beginning of what you can achieve in the TPW Community. Beyond programs, being part of the Community gives you access to:

Guides & Resources: including the Essentials Guidebook, a 101 of core principles and practices in strategic philanthropy (due for release in October 2021.)
Strategic Connections: with our growing Community of over 350 members, as well as sector partners, experts, and social change leaders across the world.
Impact & Growth Tools: including the Strategy Snapshot, a tool helping you capture your impact and set goals for the year ahead.
Thought Leadership Platforms: including speaking opportunities in programs, support to create new Peer Groups and Action Labs, and opportunities to influence peers and advocate for change.

Learn more and get involved

Click here to view our full program calendar on the Member Community. If you have questions, please reach out to info@tpw.org. Read below for more detail on each of our Cohort and Community programs, and what you can expect when joining.

The TPW Cohort

TPW’s core programs help you build your foundations, set your strategic direction, and understand TPW’s culture and values. All TPW members must commit to our core programs in their first year and will go through the programs as a cohort; members may also rejoin these programs in future years. They are relevant to all social investors regardless of your approach, funding area, or experience level. They are capped to ensure intimacy and take place over a number of days.

Accelerator

Why join?: Delivered in partnership with 21/64, the Gen Impact Accelerator is designed to help you learn core concepts and frameworks, define your role, and set your strategic direction.
Who joins—is it for me?: The Gen Impact Accelerator is designed as an entry point to TPW and recommended for members seeking to revisit their values or strategic direction.
What should I expect?: High interactivity, high intensity, and 3-4 hours pre-work.
When does it happen?: Minimum twice per year.

Advancing Strategy

Why join?: To build your understanding of philanthropic principles, models, tools, and to understand how the Strategic Roadmap applies in practice.
Who joins—is it for me?: This program has been designed as a follow-up to the GIA and recommended as an entry point to TPW for more advanced social investors, or for members seeking practical examples of What Works.
What should I expect?: High interactivity, high intensity and 3-4 hours pre-work.
When does it happen?: Minimum twice per year.

Action Planning

Why join?: To present your philanthropic or social investment strategy and receive coaching and feedback from TPW staff and peers.
Who joins—is it for me?: The Action Planning course is mandatory for members in their first year and recommended for anyone seeking to articulate and iterate their strategy.
What should I expect?: 3-4 hours pre-work required to prepare your presentation.
When does it happen?: Minimum twice per year.

Go Deeper

Our Skill Sessions, Spotlight Talks and Community Convenings leverage the experience and expertise across the community to help you deepen your knowledge, skills, and connections. These programs will often have a more specific focus than our core programs. They are 60-90 minutes in length and take place regularly across the year.

Global & Immersion Journeys

Why join?: To get proximate to social change, learn from a regional-level case study and be inspired by practitioners on the frontlines, across the world and closer to home.
Who joins—is it for me?: We strongly recommend a Global or Immersion Journey as part of your first year in TPW, or for members looking for an immersive and proximate learning experience.
What should I expect?: Practitioner-led and highly interactive; 3-4 hours pre-work required.
When does it happen?: Twice per year.

Global Summits & Gatherings

Why join?: To take stock of the global context, be energized by inspiring leaders, connect with the community, and set your intention for the year ahead.
Who joins—is it for me?: The Summit includes partners and leaders from across the sector; the Gathering is exclusive to TPW members. These are curated as a combination of all program types listed above and should be a priority if your time is limited.
What should I expect?: A dynamic and interactive convening with some pre-work to help you join ready to reflect, share, and contribute.
When does it happen?: We hold an annual Global Summit in March and a Global Gathering in October.

Skill Sessions

Why join?: To deepen your understanding of the Strategic Roadmap.
Who joins—is it for me?: Join if you want to build your understanding of specific tools, skills, and frameworks and move from theory to practice.
What should I expect?: Sessions will be workshop style; attendees are encouraged to interact. No or little pre-work required. Length of 60-90 minutes.
When does it happen?: These programs most often take place on Tuesdays at 9am PST | 12pm EST | 5pm BST.

Community Programming

TPW offers a platform for thought leaders to come forward and inspire change. You can be part of this by joining our member-led peer groups and our Global Gatherings.

Spotlight Talks

Why join?: To be inspired by practitioners sharing case studies of What Works for a particular issue, context, or approach.
Who joins—is it for me?: Join to hear practitioners share What Works across the ecosystem of social change.
What should I expect?: Attendees are welcome to join in listening mode; some sessions may be more interactive. Sessions last 60-90 minutes; no or little pre-work required.
When does it happen?: These programs most often take place on Wednesdays at 9am PST | 12pm EST | 5pm GMT.

Action Labs

Why join?: To connect and take action with a group of peers connected by a shared experience, interest, or ambition.
Who joins—is it for me?: These groups are member or partner-led and are member-only. If you can’t find a peer group relevant to your interests, you can reach out to TPW to form one.
What should I expect?: Each peer group differs but all are built upon the core values of the TPW community.
When does it happen?: Often monthly meetings on Thursdays, but varies depending on each group.

Regional Groups

Why join?: To connect, give and seek support, and share what works with TPW members in your community.
Who joins—is it for me?: These TPW-led convenings, which include Friday Breakfast Clubs and in-person Receptions, are member-only and often region-specific.
What should I expect?: An intimate, interactive community experience. Come prepared to share and talk with your peers.
: These programs most often take place on Fridays at 9am local times.

Click here to view our full program calendar on the Member Community. If you have questions, please reach out to info@tpw.org.