Program Officer Peer Learning Cohort
Hone your knowledge and advance your practice to have the greatest impact possible on the communities and issues you care about.
Program Officer Peer Learning Cohort
Decades of CEP research show that program officers play a crucial role in a funder’s ability to positively impact communities, issues, and fields. To be an outstandingly effective program officer requires a unique skillset and deep knowledge of an array of approaches. CEP’s Program Officer Peer Learning Cohort is designed to help you hone that knowledge and skillset.
In this cohort, you will connect with a supportive group of peers while you grow your knowledge of data-backed practices for effective philanthropy and hone skills tailored to your organizational context.
The cohort includes seven virtual sessions hosted February – May 2026. Each includes interactive presentations on data-backed practices, compelling guest speakers, discussion in whole group and small group formats, reflection, and peer-to-peer learning. This cohort is designed to enable you to develop a network of deeply connected peers across the field.
In this cohort, you will:
- Deepen your knowledge of effective grantmaking practices
- Hone skills for your unique context
- Learn from guest speakers + funder examples
- Build a deep network + leverage peer support
Learn about:
- Building trust-based relationships across diverse populations
- Navigating power dynamics in due diligence and difficult conversations
- Advancing equity in the context of your selection processes
- Partnering with grantees for mutual learning in reporting
- Supporting and strengthening grantee organizations using tailored grant types and non-monetary assistance
Cohort Welcome
August 20, 2026 (3-5pm ET):
- Cohort overview
- Community-building: Get to know your cohort peers
Strong Grantee Relationships
August 27, 2026 (3-5pm ET):
- What does CEP data tell us about the importance of strong funder-grantee relationships and how to build and maintain them?
- Discussion: Reflecting on relationships in the context of your organization
Selection Processes
September 17, 2026 (3-5pm ET):
- Due diligence and identifying your organization’s non-negotiables
- Streamlining processes to limit the burden on grantees
- Equity implications for constructing a portfolio, including accessing and building a pipeline
Difficult Conversations
October 8, 2026 (3-5pm ET):
- Respectful approaches to difficult grantee relationship junctures including: proposal declinations, sunsetting long-term relationships, and restrictions on funding size, length, or type.
- Discussion: Role-playing difficult conversations
Reporting Processes
October 29, 2026 (3-5pm ET):
- Creating a culture/climate of mutual learning and partnership
- Different models of reporting processes
- Discussion: Reporting processes in the context of your organization. Role-playing constructive feedback as part of the reporting process.
Strengthening Grantee Organizations
November 19, 2026 (3-5pm ET):
- What does CEP data tell us about the importance of grantmaking characteristics and non-monetary support?
- Discussion: non-monetary supports and multiyear general operating grants at your organization
Looking Ahead
December 3, 2026 (3-5pm ET):
- Tying it all together with pro-tips and career advice from seasoned Program Officers
- Celebration!
Session Details
Registration is open!
Who can sign up?
This program is a peer-based learning cohort for new to early-career program officers at grantmaking organizations who are motivated to learn, participate, and engage with a community of peers.
Limited spaces available! Register now to secure your space!
| Standard Pricing |
|---|
| $4,450 |
Registration
Group and Community Foundation Discounts
We offer a $100 discount per person for participants who join with a colleague (limit: five participants per organization) and for those joining from a community foundation. Multiple discounts may be combined.
Contact CEP if:
- You are joining from a community foundation and/or as a group and would like to apply a discount code.
- Your role doesn’t match the participant description, but you’d like to be considered.
- You require accommodations to fully participate.
- You prefer to pay using EFT, check, or grant.
Accessibility
CEP is committed to making cohorts welcoming and accessible spaces. Reach out to us if you have questions or require accommodations.
Calendar Quick Look
The utility and success of the learning cohort depends on meaningful participation from each member. So that we can foster a strong group, have fruitful conversations, and best support members in their work, we ask that each participant register with the intention of attending each of the seven planned sessions.
| Session Times | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific | Mountain | Central | Eastern |
| 12-2pm | 1-3pm | 2-4pm | 3-5pm |
| Session Topic | Date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1: Welcome | August 20 | ||||
| Session 2: Relationships | August 27 | ||||
| Session 3: Selection Process | September 17 | ||||
| Session 4: Difficult Conversations | October 8 | ||||
| Session 5: Reporting Processes | October 29 | ||||
| Session 6: Strengthening Organizations | November 19 | ||||
| Session 7: Looking Ahead | December 3 |
Past Guest Speakers
Lynn Alvarez
Former VP Programs and Strategies, ECMC Foundation
Elisha Smith Arrillaga
Vice President, Research, CEP
Luc Athayde-Rizzaro
Grantmaking Effectiveness Officer, Ford Foundation
Carrie Boyle
Senior Grants Manager, Luminate
Amber Bradley
Director, Learning Institute, CEP
Marvin D. Carr
Senior Director, Walmart.org
Bao-Long Chu
Program Director of Arts and Parks, Houston Endowment
Raquel Donoso
Program Lead of Education, Skyline Foundation
Andrea Keller Helsel
Program Officer, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Thomas Hilbink
Joseph Lee
Senior Manager, Assessment and Advisory Services, CEP
Philip Li
President & CEO, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation
Anthony Richardson
President, The George Gund Foundation
Caroline Altman Smith
Deputy Director of Education, The Kresge Foundation
LaTida Smith
President, Winston-Salem Foundation
Jennifer Wei
Organizational Effectiveness Officer, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
About the Learning Institute
CEP’s Learning Institute offers cohorts, workshops, and custom trainings for foundation staff and leaders to support your learning and implementation of data-backed practices.