WithIn Collaborative

What WithIn Collaborative does

WithIn Collaborative is a California-based consulting collaborative founded in 2019 by Johnny Manzon-Santos, Belma González, Mark Nicolson, and Adene Sacks. The firm partners with visionary leaders, philanthropic foundations, nonprofit organizations, community networks, and public agencies to co-design community-centered solutions focused on equity, anti-racism, and systems change. Its work is anchored in a methodology that integrates coaching psychology, human-centered design, anti-racism frameworks, and systems thinking, with explicit centering of communities most impacted by inequitable systems. The organization operates from the San Francisco Bay Area (Oakland/Berkeley) and serves clients primarily across California, including the Central Valley, Bay Area, Napa, San Mateo, Riverside, Humboldt County, and Stanislaus County.

WithIn's core service portfolio comprises six practice areas: Coaching (individual coach-matching via a network of anti-racism-oriented coaches), Strategy (responsive, values-rooted strategic planning), Community Co-design (equity-centered design processes with impacted stakeholders), Cohort Experiences (customized multi-month leadership programs — 11 cohorts since 2015), Workshops (clinic-style learning such as Scenario Planning, Designing Strategy, Community Co-design, and Leading Systems Change), and CalAIM PATH Technical Assistance (capacity-building for California's $1.85 billion five-year Medi-Cal delivery system initiative). The firm does not offer any software product or proprietary technology platform; all offerings are delivered through human facilitation, often via Zoom for virtual reach. Notable programmatic outputs include the Better Birthing initiative (which contributed to California AB 2176 extending birth registration to 21 days) and the Big Feelings bilingual resource hub for Latino families.

The business model is fee-for-service professional consulting, with project-based custom engagements as the primary revenue stream. Workshop pricing is publicly listed at modest levels (e.g., $1,000 per participant for the 8-session Intro to Coaching training, with sliding-scale events), while larger consulting contracts and the CalAIM PATH vendor engagement are priced via consultation and structured as multi-year contracts. Go-to-market is relationship-driven, leveraging deep referral networks across California's First 5 commissions, social-justice philanthropy (Solidaire Network, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Community Foundation for San Joaquin), and healthcare partners (Providence Health, UCSF Benioff Homeless and Housing Initiative), supplemented by thought leadership via the 2019 book 'Leading Systems Change' and conference presence. The core team consists of approximately six members plus an extended network of ~20 'Fellow Travelers' (coaches and project partners) engaged on a project basis.

Name

WithIn Collaborative

Legal name

WithIn Collaborative

Website

https://withincollaborative.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WithIn Collaborative is a California-based consulting collaborative founded in 2019 that provides coaching, strategy, community co-design, cohort experiences, and workshop facilitation to foundations, nonprofits, healthcare institutions, and government agencies pursuing equity-centered systems change.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)

Keywords

• Systems change consulting
• Leadership coaching services
• Community co-design
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Equity-centered facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services (Coaching, Strategy, Co-design): Fee-for-service consulting engagements with leaders, foundations, organizations, and community networks for coaching, strategic planning, community co-design, and leadership development.
2. Training Programs: Cohort-based training programs such as Intro to Coaching (8-session virtual training at $1000 per participant) and other workshops with defined fees or sliding scale pricing.
3. CalAIM PATH Technical Assistance: Technical assistance to California community-based organizations as part of the state's $1.85 billion five-year PATH initiative to build Medi-Cal delivery system capacity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WithIn Collaborative partners with visionary leaders, foundations, organizations, and community networks to co-create community-centered solutions for a more just and joyful world. Its core offerings include Coaching (individual and matching services), Strategy (responsive, collaborative strategic planning), Community Co-design (centering impacted communities to design solutions), Cohort Experiences (customized cohort programs), CalAIM PATH technical assistance to California community-based organizations, and a portfolio of Workshops.

Product overview

WithIn Collaborative is a consulting organization offering a portfolio of professional development and organizational transformation services. The core offerings include Coaching, Strategy, Community Co-design, Cohort Experiences, CalAIM PATH technical assistance, and Workshops. These services are delivered through various formats including intensive cohort programs, clinic-style workshops, and individual coaching. The product portfolio includes structured training programs like the Intro to Coaching Training (8-session virtual program), and specialized clinics for Scenario Planning, Designing Strategy, and Community Co-design. The organization also provides custom workshop facilitation for organizational teams. The offerings integrate methodologies spanning coaching, human-centered design, equity frameworks, adaptive strategy, and systems thinking. No software product or technology platform is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coaching One-on-one and matched coaching for visionary leaders, activists, and managers seeking reflection, healing, and transformation. Includes Coach Matching Service to pair leaders with coaches from WithIn's network committed to anti-racism, justice, and liberation.
• Strategy Strategic planning services that are inclusive, practical, and rooted in values, helping align staff, board, and community partners around a shared vision. Includes Strategy Coaching for leaders.
• Community Co-design Co-design processes that center the wisdom and needs of those most impacted to discover and enact solutions in complex and changing landscapes.
• Cohort Experiences Customized cohort programs that empower leaders to drive meaningful change, fostering deep relationships rooted in trust and shared purpose. Cohorts typically bring together 15-18 leaders.
• CalAIM PATH Technical Assistance
• Workshops Series of dynamic workshop experiences for teams and organizations to think differently about challenges and opportunities, including custom workshop facilitation.
• Intro to Coaching Training An eight-session virtual training ($1,000 per participant) introducing equity-centered coaching tools for leaders, activists, and managers to build purposeful teams and transform inequitable systems. Scheduled for September–November 2026 with limited scholarships available.
• Scenario Planning Clinic A four-session workshop with optional office hours that helps leaders and teams map possible futures, strengthen alignment, and develop strategies rooted in resilience during periods of uncertainty and disruption. Cost determined during consultation.
• Designing Strategy Clinic A four-session workshop supporting teams to co-create strategic planning processes that integrate input from multiple stakeholders, especially those traditionally marginalized. Cost determined during consultation.
• Community Co-design Clinic Workshop (full day in-person or 4 virtual sessions) teaching equity-centered design frameworks to collaborate with community stakeholders and identify new solutions to entrenched or emerging challenges. Cost determined during consultation.
• Leading Systems Change Workshop A two-day in-person or six-virtual-session workshop exploring how to embody four key identities—Anti-Racists, Systems Thinkers, Coaches, and Designers—for systems change. Cost determined during consultation.
• What Matters. No Matter What. A gathering for leaders to turn overwhelm into intentions and strategies for personal and organizational sustainability during tumultuous times. Delivered virtually at sliding-scale pricing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 leadership cohorts facilitated since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Department of Health Care ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithIn Collaborative selected as CalAIM PATH Technical Assistance Vendor to provide technical assistance to California community-based organizations as part of a five-year, $1.85 billion initiative to build capacity of the state's Medi-Cal delivery system. Focus on Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports services.
• Providence HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, CA on Better Birthing initiative to improve birth experience for Native parents in Humboldt County. Includes co-designing culturally responsive protocols, hospital environment changes, and working with Native leaders and parents.
• Community Foundation for San JoaquinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked with staff, board and community stakeholders to develop and launch a new strategic plan rooted in shared values and local impact strategies.
• Solidaire NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with staff and board to mobilize resources for racial, gender, and climate justice movements.
• Irvine New Leadership NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in California's Central Valley, NLN is a multiracial, cross-sector network cultivating a new generation of leaders. WithIn co-designed and co-authored book 'Leading Systems Change' documenting NLN's journey. Partnership ongoing since 2015.
• First 5 Napa Early Childhood NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork bringing together leaders from diverse fields, faiths, political beliefs, and racial backgrounds to co-create a more inclusive future for Napa County's children and families. WithIn facilitates network gatherings and collaborative design work.
• First 5 San Mateo CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Big Feelings initiative (2024) to better understand how Latino families access early childhood mental health services. Co-design team of parents and therapist led the work, creating bilingual online resource hub.
• UCSF Benioff Homeless and Housing InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked in 2022 to explore ways to strengthen resilience of the field of houselessness and housing, and attract, foster and grow next generation of BIPOC leaders and leaders with lived experience.
• First 5 Association of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed the First 5 Leadership Network since 2018, aligning early childhood leaders on centering needs of California's youngest residents. Network looking to embed REDI work in systems of care supporting California families.
• Stanford d.schoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThomas Both serves as Associate Creative Director at Stanford d.school, teaching and coaching social sector professionals. Joint design workshops offered for social impact leaders.
• First 5 AlamedaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization. Includes Fathers Corps program component.
• Kenneth Rainin FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization on WithIn's network page.
• California Children and Families FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization on WithIn's network page.
• Resilience InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization on WithIn's network page.
• The Water FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization on WithIn's network page.
• Together Toward HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization on WithIn's network page. Equity Fellowship program mentioned.
• Center for Indigenous MidwiferyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering with Better Birthing team to host doula training in Humboldt, CA for Native community.
• Duende (Amy Wu)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmy Wu is CEO/founder of Duende, a creative consultancy. She designed WithIn's website and is listed as internal partner.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harder+Company Community Research: California-based research and consulting firm providing evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity-building services to foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies. Comparable California footprint, social sector client base, and mixed-methods consulting approach.
• Open Impact: Social impact strategy and learning firm that co-authored 'Leading Systems Change' with WithIn. Both serve foundations and nonprofits on strategy, leadership, and systems-change work using equity-centered and design-based approaches.
• TCC Group: Consulting firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies on strategy, evaluation, and capacity building. Highly comparable as a similarly sized professional services firm focused on the social sector.
• La Piana Consulting: Nonprofit strategy consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, partnerships, mergers, and leadership development for nonprofits and foundations. Comparable in offering mix, client base, and project-based delivery model.
• Informating Change: Evaluation and learning consulting firm serving nonprofits and foundations. Directly comparable given that WithIn's Evaluation Lead Kris Helé is a former Informating Change consultant; both focus on social sector clients in California.
• New Sector Alliance: Nonprofit consulting and capacity-building organization focused on strengthening the social sector through advisory, fellowship, and strategy engagements. Comparable as a small, mission-driven advisory serving similar clients.
• Community Wealth Partners: Consulting firm helping nonprofits, funders, and cross-sector coalitions achieve large-scale social change. Comparable focus on equity-centered strategy, coalition building, and systems-change work for foundations and nonprofits.

Broad incumbents

• Bridgespan Group: Nonprofit and philanthropic consulting firm offering strategy, organization design, and impact advisory services. Comparable in serving mission-driven organizations with high-touch, customized engagements.
• FSG (Foundation Strategy Group): Global mission-driven consulting firm advising foundations and nonprofits on strategy, evaluation, and collective impact. Overlaps with WithIn's systems-change and foundation-focused work but operates at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Center for Community Change: National social justice organization supporting community-led change. Comparable in mission orientation toward equity and community-centered transformation, though more advocacy-focused than WithIn's consulting model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/within-collaborative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WithIn Collaborative