Cause Collective
Cause Collective is a Lincoln, Nebraska nonprofit membership organization founded in 1986 that serves 176 local nonprofits through collaboration, education, and advocacy services funded by tiered annual dues and foundation grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersLincoln, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cause Collective does
Cause Collective is a Lincoln, Nebraska-based nonprofit membership organization founded in 1986 that strengthens the local nonprofit sector through three integrated service pillars: Collaboration (networking events, newsletters, Cause Collective Radio on KZUM 89.3 FM, and a Facebook networking group), Education (Board 101 trainings, Skill Share coaching, membership meetings, and cohort programs such as Successful Transitions), and Advocacy (annual Nebraska Nonprofit Lobby Day and policy education). The organization serves 176 member nonprofits spanning human services, healthcare, housing, food security, youth development, arts, legal aid, and LGBTQ+ services, with membership covering all paid staff and board members of each member organization.
The business model combines tiered annual membership dues ranging from $235 to $840 based on operating budget with corporate sponsorships and major foundation grants. Platinum sponsor Duncan Aviation, Gold sponsors Union Bank & Trust, Ameritas, and Pinnacle Bank, plus foundation funders including United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County, Lincoln Community Foundation, Cooper Foundation, Woods Charitable Fund, Community Health Endowment, and Sherwood Foundation provide the bulk of non-dues revenue. The go-to-market is community-led: peer referrals, word-of-mouth within the Lincoln nonprofit sector, and monthly member meetings drive new member acquisition.
The organization operates with a lean 8-person staff led by Executive Director Jason Varga, Associate Executive Director Laura Uridil, and Projects & Events Coordinator Milli Ciprian, supported by a Board of Directors (President Dawn Rockey, VP Dennis Hoffman, Treasurer Chris Lauer, Secretary Elton Edmond). The technology stack is minimal — primarily the Neon One platform for website and event registration — with no proprietary software products. During the 2025-26 fiscal year, Cause Collective hosted 226 events and activities, served 1,271 individuals, aired 51 radio episodes, and delivered 18 trainings to 324+ registrants.
Cause Collective firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cause Collective
- Legal name
- Cause Collective
- Website
- https://causecollectivelincoln.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cause Collective is a Lincoln, Nebraska nonprofit membership organization founded in 1986 that serves 176 local nonprofits through collaboration, education, and advocacy services funded by tiered annual dues and foundation grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cause Collective industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Support Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
Keywords
Where Cause Collective is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lincoln
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cause Collective business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Annual Membership Dues: Cause Collective generates revenue through tiered annual membership dues based on member nonprofits' operating budgets as reflected in their 990 tax returns. Membership includes all paid staff and board of directors of member nonprofits. Dues are due in early July to match the fiscal year and are pro-rated per quarter for new members joining mid-year.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Operating budget under $100,000: $235 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Operating budget $100,000 - $249,999: $285 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Operating budget $250,000 - $499,999: $340 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Operating budget $500,000 - $999,999: $470 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Operating budget $1,000,000 - $2,000,000: $575 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Operating budget over $2,000,000: $840 per year |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Cause Collective product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cause Collective is a regional nonprofit membership association that serves other nonprofit organizations through three integrated pillars: collaboration (peer networking, committees, and resource-sharing), education (training, workshops, and professional development), and advocacy (collective policy voice on issues affecting the nonprofit sector). Members pay annual tiered dues and gain access to a sustained peer network of 176+ Lincoln-area nonprofits.
Product overview
Cause Collective is a nonprofit membership organization (not a software product company) that provides a unified set of community strengthening services for nonprofits in Lincoln, Nebraska. Its core offering consists of three interconnected service pillars: Collaboration Services (networking events, newsletters, radio show, Facebook group), Education Services (trainings, board training, Skill Share coaching, membership meetings, cohort programs), and Advocacy Services (lobby day, policy resources). Additional programs include membership benefits, Purpose Palooza! annual conference, Elevate professional development, Executive Director's Roundtable, and Volunteer Coordinator's Council. The organization serves over 175 member nonprofits through annual membership dues ranging from $235-$840 based on operating budget.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Nonprofit Membership Annual membership in Cause Collective, the Lincoln-based nonprofit association serving 176+ member organizations. Dues are tiered by the member organization's operating budget, ranging from approximately $235 to $840 per year, and grant access to the association's collaboration, education, and advocacy programming.
- Collaboration and Networking Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 176 member nonprofits served
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cause Collective
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cause Collective technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cause Collective partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KZUM Radio 89.3 FMcoreCause Collective partners with KZUM Radio to produce Cause Collective Radio, a show that highlights members and educates the community about nonprofits in Lincoln. Episodes air Mondays at 11:30am.
- Pen & PugcoreJoint effort with Pen & Pug to host Purpose Palooza!, an annual nonprofit conference connecting local nonprofit professionals with marketing experts.
- Coalition for a Strong NebraskacorePartner sharing advocacy education resources including the 'How to Lobby' book and video trainings to help nonprofits learn how to advocate and lobby.
- Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM)coreNAM provides advocacy resources and Best Practices Partnership for Cause Collective. NAM coordinates updates on federal advocacy matters affecting nonprofits.
- Ingrid Kirst (Consultant)coreFacilitates Successful Transitions cohort program and provides consulting on executive director searches and operating manuals.
- Clover Frederick (Consultant)minorNonprofit consultant listed as sponsor.
- Anchor and Compass (Consultant)minorNonprofit consultant listed as sponsor.
- JW Croft ConsultingminorNonprofit consultant listed as sponsor.
- Whole CollectiveminorNonprofit consultant listed as sponsor.
- Mission MattersminorNonprofit consultant listed as sponsor, provides strategic planning consulting.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cause Collective competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- The Bridgespan Group: Consulting and advisory firm serving nonprofits and foundations on strategy, leadership, and organizational effectiveness - adjacent ecosystem player providing capacity-building services to nonprofit leaders Cause Collective trains.
Direct peers
- BoardSource: National nonprofit focused on nonprofit board governance, leadership, and capacity building - directly comparable function to Cause Collective's Board 101 and executive-director programs.
- Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM): Statewide Nebraska nonprofit association that provides advocacy, training, and best-practices support to nonprofits - the most direct counterpart to Cause Collective, and an existing partner.
- Forefront (now part of The Civic Roundtable): Midwest nonprofit membership association serving Illinois nonprofits through advocacy, training, and consulting - same chamber-of-commerce-for-nonprofits model.
- Michigan Nonprofit Association: Statewide nonprofit support organization providing member training, policy advocacy, and resources - functionally identical model to Cause Collective but statewide in Michigan.
- Minnesota Council of Nonprofits: Statewide nonprofit association offering training, advocacy, publications, and networking to member nonprofits - structurally analogous to Cause Collective at a larger scale.
- Washington Nonprofits: State-level nonprofit association in Washington providing training, policy advocacy, and leadership programs to member nonprofits - direct functional analog in a different geography.
- Wisconsin Nonprofits Association: Statewide association providing training, advocacy, and convening for Wisconsin nonprofits - near-clone structure of Cause Collective's three-pillar model.
Broad incumbents
- Independent Sector: National membership coalition of nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs that advocates for the sector and produces research - a broader incumbent version of Cause Collective's advocacy role.
- National Council of Nonprofits: National umbrella network of state and regional nonprofit associations; provides similar advocacy, education, and capacity-building services but at the federal/multi-state level rather than local.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cause Collective social profiles
Digital presenceCause Collective financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cause Collective leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cause Collective funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cause Collective M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cause Collective
What does Cause Collective do?
Cause Collective is a regional nonprofit membership association that serves other nonprofit organizations through three integrated pillars: collaboration (peer networking, committees, and resource-sharing), education (training, workshops, and professional development), and advocacy (collective policy voice on issues affecting the nonprofit sector). Members pay annual tiered dues and gain access to a sustained peer network of 176+ Lincoln-area nonprofits.
Is Cause Collective a public or private company?
Cause Collective is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cause Collective founded?
Cause Collective was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cause Collective based?
Cause Collective is headquartered in Lincoln, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cause Collective make money?
One revenue line is on record: annual Membership Dues.
Who are Cause Collective's main competitors?
The Bridgespan Group is listed as an others. Direct peers are BoardSource, Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM), Forefront (now part of The Civic Roundtable), Michigan Nonprofit Association, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Washington Nonprofits and Wisconsin Nonprofits Association. Broad incumbents are Independent Sector and National Council of Nonprofits.
Does Cause Collective have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cause Collective.
What industry is Cause Collective in?
Cause Collective's product category is Nonprofit Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries. Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.