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Philanthropy Hubs Overview

Learn what a Philanthropy Hub is, how ecosystems fit inside it, and who can access it.

A Hub gives a network and its members one shared view of their philanthropic landscape. Each Hub groups a set of ecosystems, so you can see the nonprofits, funders, and grants in a region or cause. This article covers what a Hub is, what an ecosystem is, how Hubs get created, and who has access.

What is a Philanthropy Hub?

A Philanthropy Hub (aka Hub) is a collection of ecosystems built around a region, a cause, or a network. Impala builds each Hub with a partner, such as a council of foundations, a funder collaborative, a nonprofit association, or an enterprise organization.

Use a Hub to answer questions like:

  • How big is philanthropy in our region or cause, and is it growing?
  • Which foundations give here, and which nonprofits do they support?
  • Which members of our network fund the same organizations?
  • Which funders outside our network are active in our area?

Inside a Hub, you will find:

  • Key indicators. Headline measures of an ecosystem, such as size, growth, staffing, and support from institutional philanthropy.
  • Nonprofits and funders. Lists of the nonprofits active in the ecosystem and the foundations giving to it.
  • Grants and funding trends. The grants flowing into the ecosystem and how funding has changed over time.
  • Interactive map. See where organizations and their programs are located.
  • PDF reports. Download any ecosystem as a formatted report to share offline.

Hub data comes from the same sources as the rest of Impala, including IRS filings and 990 grant records.

What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a defined set of nonprofits, the funders that support them, and the grants between them. Impala transforms that set into trends, comparisons, and lists you can explore.

An ecosystem can be defined three ways:

  • A sector. Choose geographies, causes, or keywords.
  • A set of funders. See those funders and their grantees.
  • A set of nonprofits. See those nonprofits and their funders.

Every Hub has a main ecosystem that covers the whole community. It can also include sub-ecosystems that zoom in on a smaller slice, such as a county, a cause like housing, or a group of members. Some Hubs add one more layer, called a sub-hub.

The ecosystem holds the data. The Hub is the home that organizes ecosystems and controls who can see them.

Ecosystems also work on their own. If your plan includes Ecosystems Research, you can build your own. See the Ecosystems Research Overview to learn how.

How Hubs get created

Impala builds each Hub together with a network or organization. The network chooses the region, cause, or community the Hub covers, and who it is for. Impala then builds the ecosystems, sets up branding and access, and launches the Hub for members.

Want a Hub for your network or enterprise organization? Contact us to learn more.

Who has access to a Hub?

Each network and Impala decide who a Hub is for. Impala then sets up access to match.

Privacy settings

Setting What it means
Sponsored Hub Publicly listed on Impala and open to anyone who visits. Some Sponsored Hubs require internal approval before you get full access.
Private Not listed publicly. You reach it through a direct link.
Members only An added layer on a Sponsored Hub. Only members of the network, or people granted access, can open it.

How you get in

  • Impala account. Hub access is tied to your Impala account. If you don’t have one, sign up for free or ask Impala to invite you.
  • Sponsored access. A sponsor can fund access for a group, such as a network’s members, their grantees, or every nonprofit in a region.
  • Single sign-on. Some networks link to their Hub from a member portal. You sign in once and land in the Hub.
  • Access requests. Some Hubs show a notice that your access is limited. This means a request was sent for you. While it is pending, you can explore high-level trends. After approval, you can open each ecosystem’s lists, grants, and more.

Hub access and other Impala products

Hub access covers the Hub and its ecosystems. Other tools, such as Philanthropy Database, full Ecosystems Research, and Due Diligence, depend on your own plan or your sponsor’s terms.

Troubleshooting

I can’t open a Hub I was told about

  • Private Hubs aren’t listed publicly. Use the direct link from your network.
  • Sign in with the email address your network has on file.
  • Still no access? Email support@impala.digital with the Hub name.

Can I build my own ecosystem outside a Hub?

  • Yes, if your plan includes Ecosystems Research. Your ecosystems stay separate from any Hub you belong to.

Still stuck?

  • Email support@impala.digital and we’ll help you out.