Link Related & Nested Groups

Hylo allows for infinitely nested groups to create a network that reflects your organizing structure on the ground. Each group on Hylo can create internal subgroups or connect with external groups.

Related Groups

Is your group collaborating with other groups? Are there related parent, child, or peer groups? Are you part of any networks? This is the place to set up those connections!

Hylo allows group creators to set up group relationships that reflect how your organizations collaborate in real life. You can establish nested structures with parent-child relationships or create peer-to-peer connections that represent alliances and partnerships without hierarchy.

Viewing Related Groups

To view the groups that are connected with your group, click the Groups tab in the lefthand navigation. You will see a network map and lists of related groups organized by relationship type.

Parent Groups: A containing group that your current group is part of.

Child Groups: Subgroups of your current group or members of a network that your group represents.

Peer Groups: Groups you're allied or partnered with as equals, without one being nested within the other.

The network map displays these different relationship types with distinct visual indicators, making it clear whether groups are in nested or peer relationships.

Example: A global student movement might have a main coordination hub (parent group) with regional chapters (child groups) and allied organizations working on similar issues (peer groups).

Connecting with External Groups

As a group steward, you can manage all group connections in Group Settings under the Related Groups tab. Here you'll see lists of Parent, Child, and Peer groups you're already connected with and can create new connections.

Establishing Group Relationships

Join Another Group: Request to nest your group within another group. The stewards of that group can approve or deny your request.

Invite a Group to Join Yours: Invite another group to become a child group. They can accept or deny your invitation.

Connect as Peers: Establish a peer-to-peer relationship with another group. This creates a visible alliance without nesting one group inside the other.

Managing Existing Connections

For any existing relationship, click the three dots to:

• Leave Parent - Remove your group from a parent group

• Remove Child - Remove a child group from your network

• End Peer Relationship - Disconnect from a peer group

Peer Group Features

Visibility: Members can discover all peer groups in your network, just like with nested groups.

Content Separation: Unlike nested groups, peer group content remains separate—posts and discussions don't flow between peer groups.

Privacy: If peer groups have different privacy settings, visibility follows each group's individual settings. Only group stewards can see connections to hidden peer groups.

Relationship Descriptions: You can add custom descriptions explaining the nature of each peer relationship (partnership, alliance, collaboration, etc.).