Mockingbird- Nonprofit Incubator Grant Program

Mockingbird- Nonprofit Incubator Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Mockingbird Incubator
Amount: Up to US $4,000
Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Summary

The Mockingbird Nonprofit Incubator Grant Program supports emerging nonprofit founders in creating sustainable growth and impact. The program includes eight live workshops on nonprofit management, fundraising, and access to resources from Givebutter. Selected organizations receive scholarships and the chance to apply for $4,000 in grant funds. Eligibility is limited to 501c3 nonprofits or those under fiscal sponsorship with budgets under $500,000, fostering a community of committed leaders ready to make a difference.

Overview

Our cohort-based program is designed to help emerging nonprofit founders create sustainable growth and measurable impact in our communities. If you are a nonprofit founder, you've probably realized by now that running a nonprofit isn't easy! Besides the specific legal requirements of running a 501c3, this work requires you to understand how a nonprofit board works, how to fundraise for your nonprofit, stay in compliance, and how to market your work, among SO MANY other things. That can be overwhelming. After many years of working with nonprofits at different stages, we've designed the Nonprofit Incubator Program to teach founders how to run scalable nonprofits that make a difference. During the eight weeks of the program, our team will guide you step-by-step through the process of growing an organization, navigating the world of nonprofits, and securing the funds you need to realize your mission. We partner with Givebutter to provide 20 nonprofit organizations with the tools and resources they need to grow. Thanks to Givebutter, selected organizations will receive a full scholarship to participate in the program and the opportunity to apply for up to $4,000 in grant funds after completion of the incubator. Our Program Includes: Eight (8) live workshops on nonprofit management, including one workshop from our partner, Givebutter, to help with attracting and engaging individual donors on their platform.Review of your fundraising campaign by the Givebutter team.Access to our Fundraising Challenge and the opportunity to receive matching funds from Mockingbird Nonprofit Incubator.Lifetime discounted access to all our additional events in nonprofit management and development.Recordings and extra resources are available on our Teachable digital learning platform.Access to our network of expert nonprofit professionals and founders and our growing incubator cohort alumni group.One of our participants will have the opportunity to win our $3,000 seed grant after completing the program.How much does it cost? Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 501c3 nonprofit organizations or under fiscal sponsorship incorporated and operating in the United States are welcome. If you are still in the idea stage, we encourage you to take our Introduction to Nonprofit Management Course before applying for our incubator. We will only consider organizations with budgets under $500,000. To be considered, you need to have a Givebutter account.How do I know if the incubator program is right for me? This program is perfect for you if you are:A 501c3 nonprofit organizations or under fiscal sponsorship incorporated and operating in the United States.An activist, grassroots organizer, founder, social justice innovator new to the nonprofit sector.Eager to learn how to run your nonprofit because you are passionate about a cause but not sure about the administrative details.Willing to put in the work, attend the live workshops and complete the assignments. Ready and committed to growing an organization and your nonprofit leadership skills.

Ineligibility

This program is NOT for you if:You want an easy way to start a nonprofit or don’t have an idea about the kind of work you want to do.You don’t have the time to attend the live workshops or complete the assignments. You're not willing to invest time in starting and growing your organization. We also do not accept organizations whose mission is not in line with our ethical code. This includes missionary organizations, religious organizations whose intent is to proselytize, organizations whose intent is further a cause based in anti-science or conspiracy-led beliefs, booster organizations to support the work of governmental institutions, organizations whose sole purpose is “raising awareness”, lobbying, or building out a technology platform, and organizations whose purpose is racist, sexist, xenophobic, anti-science, anti-LGBTQ+, or otherwise discriminatory.Unfortunately, we cannot assist or provide advice to organizations outside the U.S. because that is outside our area of expertise.