Annual Convening of the national Sustained Collaboration Network funder initiatives. Initiative Managers from across the country who lead the member initiatives of the Sustained Collaboration Network will meet to share practices, workshop shared challenges, reflect on their joint evaluation, and identify opportunities for future collective efforts.

The current crisis that many perceive to our democracy, especially in this election year, is set against a backdrop of deep partisan divides. Under these circumstances, it is easy to conflate ideas about what a strong democracy looks like with the realization of particular political goals. In this session we’ll talk honestly about how and why this can happen, and what mental models can help us recognize when we are conflating democracy, politics, and partisanship.  How can we support democracy without “taking sides” on political issues? What does working toward social cohesion look like when we are centering democracy? Participants will have space to reflect on how democracy can be greater than politics, and join peers in discussing challenges, asking questions, and sharing best practices.

We’re kicking off the event at an iconic Chicago location! Offshore Rooftop at Navy Pier will offer a beautiful setting and relaxed atmosphere for Practice Teams to get to know one another, plan their time together, and set shared goals for the days ahead.

Join your fellow early risers for a healthy breakfast.

Through mindfulness, yoga, and restorative practices, we will be laying the foundation to pause and drop into conscious relaxation. By creating more space, we are setting conditions to be with ourselves and with the “weather” as it is, so we can choose our behavior, rewiring our ability to expand our options. Through practice, we learn to shift out of our habitual reactions and bring awareness to how we are being present, which affects how we are showing up in our lives, in our world and with each other. Bring your Practice Guides and pens.

RSVP here! For breakfast count.

Join New Pluralists’ funders to hear how and why they’ve chosen to learn and act together to advance pluralism, bridging and belonging in our culture. We’ll explore examples of:

• Where funders’ own values or perspectives have been expanded or challenged
• What has been made possible through this unique collaboration
• Why it’s worth it! 

We’ll also speak about our emerging insights on pluralism to help deepen and guide your Council on Foundations conference experience. Speakers and more details to come!

Breakfast will be available; this event will end with plenty of time to join the opening plenary session.
 

Even in our professional lives, harnessing the generative power of conflict is intensely personal work. This is especially true in philanthropy, where our work is driven by a deep commitment to issues that sometimes divide us. New York Times columnist and author David Brooks will prepare us to make the most of Building Together by sharing the building blocks of understanding: what it takes to truly see someone else and help them feel seen. Journalist and author Mónica Guzmán, in conversation with Romanita Hairston, CEO of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, will then explore how “fearlessly curious” conversations can help us move past conflict, from the echo chambers of social media to our own dinner tables.

Take this time for quiet reflection or meditation, to engage in one of our arts activities, or to connect with workshop providers, fellow attendees, and Council staff. Refreshments will be available in Normandie Lounge and Salon A.

This session is sold out.

What it is: A workshop to build your capacity to explore disagreements while strengthening relationships, trust, learning, and collaboration. 

What you’ll gain: 

• Practice in two core skills for difficult conversations across diverse backgrounds and viewpoints 
• Customized coaching from Resetting the Table staff and Council staff who have been trained by Resetting the Table 
• Increased capacity and confidence to discuss charged issues 
• Replicable tools and exercises for building communication across differences in ways that strengthen connection, insight, and collaboration 

About Resetting the Table: Resetting the Table equips leaders and communities with tools and skills to transform toxic polarization in American life. RTT trains societal norm-shapers from influential clergy to grantmaking professionals to Hollywood showrunners and writers of popular shows like Grey's Anatomy and Handmaid's Tale. 

Coaches: Brian Kastner, Director, Engagement, Council on Foundations; Daniela Rodriguez Ranf, Director, Leadership Development and Training, Council on Foundations; Kristen Scott Kennedy, Vice President, Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness and Chief of Staff, Council on Foundations; Nidale Zouhir, Manager, Government Affairs, Council on Foundations 

What it is: A journey through lessons learned from StoryCorps’ 20-year history and its One Small Step Program, which records meaningful conversations between strangers. 

What you’ll learn: 

• The theory behind and lessons learned from StoryCorps’ One Small Step conversation model 
• Listening techniques that you’ll practice during a guided One Small Step-style conversation with fellow attendees 
• How you can take one small step in your organization or in your community 

About StoryCorps: Founded in 2003, StoryCorps has given over 642,000 people, in all 50 states, the chance to record interviews about their lives. The award-winning organization preserves the recordings at the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered. 

What it is: A transformative workshop on how to use time-tested strategies to convene diverse stakeholders and achieve maximum impact. 

What you’ll learn: 

• How to cultivate a mindset that leverages the strength of collective wisdom 
• How to not only manage conflicts but transform them into opportunities for growth and mutual understanding 
• How to convene diverse stakeholders, frame issues, identify shared goals, and solve complex problems together 

About Convergence Center for Policy Resolution: Convergence is the leading organization bridging divides to solve critical issues through collaborative problem-solving across ideological, political, and cultural lines. 

What it is: A hands-on workshop to help you learn and practice the skill of validating the perspectives of others while holding firm to your own. 

What you’ll gain: 

• A profound grasp of the research supporting bridging practices 
• Enhanced skills in empathic listening, perspective giving and perspective taking 
• A wealth of resources to support your internal and external work to bridge differences 

About the Greater Good Science Center: The Greater Good Science Center turns research into action. Since 2018, the GGSC's Bridging Differences program has combined science and storytelling to address the critical challenge of political and cultural polarization.  

What it is: An interactive session to build your confidence and capacity to move from religious diversity (a fact) to pluralism (engagement across diversity) within and beyond your organization. 

What you’ll explore:  

• The social science behind Interfaith America’s methodology of respect – relate – cooperate 
• Additional tools to go deeper on religious literacy, shared values dialogue, and navigating tension 

About Interfaith America: Interfaith America’s mission is to inspire, equip, and connect leaders and institutions to unlock the potential of America's religious diversity.  It is the leading civic interfaith institution in the world, partnering with corporations and businesses, leading civic organizations and networks, and over 600 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. 

What it is: An interactive workshop using presentation, call-and-response, small-group discussion, and humor to help you make a more convincing case for equity. 

What you’ll learn: 

• How to define Black people – and all people – by aspirations and contributions rather than by degradations and disparities 
• How to have more dignifying relationships with staff and communities of color 
• How to surface opportunities where others may only see problems 

About BMe Community: BMe Community is an award-winning network of innovators, leaders, and champions who invest in aspiring communities. Through our Asset-Framing Program, we train leading organizations in matters of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

What it is: A highly interactive workshop to help you build skills for constructive conversations.  

What you’ll learn: 

• How the language funders use can land differently with stakeholders from the right or the left of the political continuum 
• How to avoid the predictable traps of communicating in this time of high polarization and low social trust 

About Braver Angels: Braver Angels is a national movement to bridge the partisan divide by bringing Red and Blue Americans together into a working alliance. 

What it is: A concise but deep dive into the underlying causes of the rural urban divide and what progressives, liberals, and moderates can do to overcome it. 

What you’ll learn:  

• Effective communication across lines of difference 
• Nonpolitical community work to restore trust 
• Developing public policy that promotes bottom-up problem solving 
• Effective engagement with those who have dropped out of civic and political affairs  

About Rural Urban Bridge Initiative: The Rural Urban Bridge Initiative is a national organization dedicated to helping people understand and overcome the rural urban divide through three program areas: Research and analysis; education and training; and concrete action initiatives, including national policy work.

Take this time for quiet reflection or meditation, to engage in one of our arts activities, or to connect with workshop providers, fellow attendees, and Council staff. Refreshments will be available in Normandie Lounge and Salon A.

In this interactive conversation, we will explore how foundations are addressing toxic polarization and how it is a critical component of part of their work aimed to strengthen democracy and our capabilities to live, work, and thrive together across differences.  What is toxic polarization and how is it affecting the philanthropic sector? What are the different ways funders are incorporating this work into their portfolios? Where should you begin, and who should you be collaborating with to develop effective strategies? These are just some of the questions we'll tackle as we delve into the emerging work of strengthening democracy and pluralism within philanthropy. During our "polarization 101" discussion, we'll share insights into the current state of affairs and highlight the innovative approaches being implemented by foundations around the globe.   You'll also have the chance to hear firsthand examples of interventions funders are integrating into their community investment portfolios. Through real-world case studies and discussions, you'll gain valuable insights to inform your foundation's strategies to reduce toxic polarization and build a healthier democracy.    

The philanthropic field is changing—not only its personnel and its grantmaking priorities, but also its culture. As the divisions in the external environment impact the way we work internally, leaders in philanthropy are grappling with generational transitions, a changing relationship to grantees and communities, and ensuring that organizational norms, leadership development opportunities, and organization practice remain in alignment with values. 

How are funders building bridges, navigating conflict, and finding common ground internally to ensure that their workplaces don’t look and sound like a thread on X, or end up as one?  How do they respond to the very different—and sometimes conflicting—expectations about how an organization ought to work, how decisions should be made, how staff and grantees ought to relate to one another, or what the proper role of a board is?  

Join this session to better understand strategies you can use in the workplace to promote building shared vision, commitment, and a joyful workplace.

The Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC) is a coalition of more than 50 foundations and funders, working together to identify and support community-led, evidence-based solutions that the public sector can scale as part of a comprehensive approach to addressing gun violence. Come learn from your peers and their partners in Chicago more about why they’re stepping in to support this effort and what it means to work together to address holistic solutions to an often divisive and hot-button issue.

Local communities across America are experiencing massive social, economic, and cultural transformations that are fuel for polarization. Yet communities — especially in rural America — are rising to the challenge by creating locally led programming that aligns residents' interests (hobbies, arts, entertainment, etc.) with experiences where they work together to solve local challenges that matter most to them. Community foundations, business associations, art collectives and other creative collaborations are leading the way in innovating a new era in American civic life. But too often, these communities do not get the funding and support they need to ensure their efforts reach their full potential.

Join the Trust for Civic Infrastructure to explore how philanthropy can support this locally led civic renaissance. Together we'll explore the on-the-ground realities of rural civic programming. Then we'll work in groups to design philanthropic approaches and portfolios that support local communities, civic innovation, and increase social trust. At the end of the session you'll have a set of tools for your organization to take the next steps in supporting civic innovation. 

Every good story has an arc. As the United States approaches 250 years young, what are the underlying narratives that move us to continue building a bigger “we?” How do we tell an honest, generative story of belonging in America? And what gets in the way? Join this conversation with funders who are working creatively across sectors to tap cultural narratives and storylines as a core part of their strategies.

Conversations in philanthropy can often seem detached from the work we’re all doing day-to-day with our communities, and we may struggle to act as translators when the language we use complicates instead of illuminates. Often referred to as “philanthro-speak,” the language we use  sometimes gets in the way. How do terms like community, racial equity, advocacy, diversity, bridging, social justice, and belonging land with Americans with different identities, geographies, and perspectives? How can we build recognition for the shared values that live behind the buzz words? This session will highlight research and findings from PACE’s (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement) Civic Language Perceptions Project, which explores perceptions of and relationships to words commonly used in the philanthropic field.

There is a growing ecosystem of organizations working to bridge differences, build common ground, and foster belonging. How do funders who are investing in or exploring such work know that it is having an impact? Join peers to discuss how they approach evaluation for their funding portfolios focused on this kind of work. Learn more about the Belonging Barometer tool and how it can be adapted. Find out how bridging and belonging practitioners are bringing research insights and rigor to both program design and measurement. Explore new findings from the Council’s landscape scan to better understand the ways in which our members and the broader philanthropic field are already engaged in work to bridge differences and build common ground.   

Polarization —especially extreme polarization —presents a persistent and pernicious threat to democratic systems and institutions around the world. But addressing it is not always recognized as a legitimate way to protect and restore democratic norms. Four years ago, the Ford Foundation launched the Global Initiative on Polarization, in partnership with the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), with the goals of deepening understanding of the diverse causes and consequences of severe polarization in democratic and nondemocratic settings and learning how to advance meaningful dialogue and social justice while effectively preventing and responding to polarization. Join Hilary Pennington, Executive Vice President for Programs at the Ford Foundation for a candid and interactive conversation about our collective journeys to understand the causes of polarization worldwide, and how the challenges and lessons the Ford Foundation has learned from a global initiative might connect to those you are facing in your own work to navigate deep differences.

(CEO-Only Session) Foundation CEOs regularly find themselves being called upon to navigate differences and find common ground between people and groups that hold a variety of ideas, interests, and world views. Whether you are attempting to align board and staff on an equity journey or to create a shared vision of progress with community partners, this work takes patience, compassion, and skill. In this session, featuring David Brooks, we invite participants to take off their armor and get real about what it means to be a foundation CEO in this fraught and divisive moment. Join us to hear David’s observations about some of the macro trends impacting our ability to create enduring relationships across divides and connect with peer CEOs about the challenges of bridging and strategies for bringing people and communities together instead of fueling division.

Community and place-based funders play an important role in bridging differences and building common ground. Their role in convening and public events can help strengthen trust in institutions and pursue opportunities for shared healing and collaborative work. Join your community foundation peers as they discuss the successes, challenges, and lessons learned of stepping into the role of leading with grace in divided times. Take away strategies you can use in your community to transform conflict and advance shared values.

You're invited! Join us for a Joint Reception co-sponsored by AAPIP, ABFE, HIP, NAP and Funders for LGBTQ Issues. This community reception is open to all conference attendees and Affinity Chicago members. RSVP here to help us plan for enough snacks! This reception will immediately precede the People’s Supper. 

Take this time for quiet reflection or meditation, to engage in one of our arts activities, or to connect with workshop providers, fellow attendees, and Council staff. Refreshments will be available in Normandie Lounge and Salon A.

Join us to reunite with fellow Career Pathways alumni for a fun networking session! It will be an opportunity to catch up with fellow cohort members.

Join us for The People’s Supper where all are invited to gather as we build connection among peers of different identities and perspectives. Since 2017, this movement has brought more than 10,000 people together around dinner tables in over 100 cities and towns nationwide in partnership with dozens of local government and civic groups, faith-based organizations and communities, colleges and universities, and workplaces. Take advantage of the opportunity to break bread and connect with your colleagues to practice what you’re learning.

Join your fellow early risers for a healthy breakfast.

Through mindfulness, yoga, and restorative practices, we will be laying the foundation to pause and drop into conscious relaxation. By creating more space, we are setting conditions to be with ourselves and with the “weather” as it is, so we can choose our behavior, rewiring our ability to expand our options. Through practice, we learn to shift out of our habitual reactions and bring awareness to how we are being present, which affects how we are showing up in our lives, in our world and with each other. Bring your Practice Guides and pens.

Working Group members are invited to join us for a special breakfast where we celebrate your work making Building Together happen!

During periods of rapid change, humans tend to respond in one of two ways, according to the Othering and Belonging Institute: We either “break” by seeding deep fears of “other” groups, or we “bridge,” by invoking our shared humanity in service of a greater “we.” How can we, as funders, position bridging as part of the pursuit of equity and justice – not in opposition to it? Kathleen Enright, President and CEO of the Council on Foundations will open the session before turning it over to a panel moderated by Joshua Clark of OBI, our speakers – Sulma Arias, Eboo Patel, and Eric Ward – will share different perspectives on how we reckon with our past, heal our collective wounds, and navigate charged differences to build a diverse, pluralistic, and inclusive society.

Take this time for quiet reflection or meditation, to engage in one of our arts activities, or to connect with workshop providers, fellow attendees, and Council staff. Refreshments will be available in Normandie Lounge and Salon A.

This session is sold out.

What it is: A workshop to build your capacity to explore disagreements while strengthening relationships, trust, learning, and collaboration. 

What you’ll gain: 

• Practice in two core skills for difficult conversations across diverse backgrounds and viewpoints 
• Customized coaching from Resetting the Table staff and Council staff who have been trained by Resetting the Table 
• Increased capacity and confidence to discuss charged issues 
• Replicable tools and exercises for building communication across differences in ways that strengthen connection, insight, and collaboration 

About Resetting the Table: Resetting the Table equips leaders and communities with tools and skills to transform toxic polarization in American life. RTT trains societal norm-shapers from influential clergy to grantmaking professionals to Hollywood showrunners and writers of popular shows like Grey's Anatomy and Handmaid's Tale. 

Coaches: Brian Kastner, Director, Engagement, Council on Foundations; Daniela Rodriguez Ranf, Director, Leadership Development and Training, Council on Foundations; Kristen Scott Kennedy, Vice President, Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness and Chief of Staff, Council on Foundations; Nidale Zouhir, Manager, Government Affairs, Council on Foundations 

What it is: A journey through lessons learned from StoryCorps’ 20-year history and its One Small Step Program, which records meaningful conversations between strangers. 

What you’ll learn: 

• The theory behind and lessons learned from StoryCorps’ One Small Step conversation model 
• Listening techniques that you’ll practice during a guided One Small Step-style conversation with fellow attendees 
• How you can take one small step in your organization or in your community 

About StoryCorps: Founded in 2003, StoryCorps has given over 642,000 people, in all 50 states, the chance to record interviews about their lives. The award-winning organization preserves the recordings at the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered. 

What it is: A transformative workshop on how to use time-tested strategies to convene diverse stakeholders and achieve maximum impact. 

What you’ll learn: 

• How to cultivate a mindset that leverages the strength of collective wisdom 
• How to not only manage conflicts but transform them into opportunities for growth and mutual understanding 
• How to convene diverse stakeholders, frame issues, identify shared goals, and solve complex problems together 

About Convergence Center for Policy Resolution: Convergence is the leading organization bridging divides to solve critical issues through collaborative problem-solving across ideological, political, and cultural lines. 

What it is: A hands-on workshop to help you learn and practice the skill of validating the perspectives of others while holding firm to your own. 

What you’ll gain: 

• A profound grasp of the research supporting bridging practices 
• Enhanced skills in empathic listening, perspective giving and perspective taking 
• A wealth of resources to support your internal and external work to bridge differences 

About the Greater Good Science Center: The Greater Good Science Center turns research into action. Since 2018, the GGSC's Bridging Differences program has combined science and storytelling to address the critical challenge of political and cultural polarization.  

What it is: An interactive session to build your confidence and capacity to move from religious diversity (a fact) to pluralism (engagement across diversity) within and beyond your organization. 

What you’ll explore:  

• The social science behind Interfaith America’s methodology of respect – relate – cooperate 
• Additional tools to go deeper on religious literacy, shared values dialogue, and navigating tension 

About Interfaith America: Interfaith America’s mission is to inspire, equip, and connect leaders and institutions to unlock the potential of America's religious diversity.  It is the leading civic interfaith institution in the world, partnering with corporations and businesses, leading civic organizations and networks, and over 600 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. 

What it is: An interactive workshop using presentation, call-and-response, small-group discussion, and humor to help you make a more convincing case for equity. 

What you’ll learn: 

• How to define Black people – and all people – by aspirations and contributions rather than by degradations and disparities 
• How to have more dignifying relationships with staff and communities of color 
• How to surface opportunities where others may only see problems 

About BMe Community: BMe Community is an award-winning network of innovators, leaders, and champions who invest in aspiring communities. Through our Asset-Framing Program, we train leading organizations in matters of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

What it is: A highly interactive workshop to help you build skills for constructive conversations.  

What you’ll learn: 

• How the language funders use can land differently with stakeholders from the right or the left of the political continuum 
• How to avoid the predictable traps of communicating in this time of high polarization and low social trust 

About Braver Angels: Braver Angels is a national movement to bridge the partisan divide by bringing Red and Blue Americans together into a working alliance. 

What it is: A concise but deep dive into the underlying causes of the rural urban divide and what progressives, liberals, and moderates can do to overcome it. 

What you’ll learn:  

• Effective communication across lines of difference 
• Nonpolitical community work to restore trust 
• Developing public policy that promotes bottom-up problem solving 
• Effective engagement with those who have dropped out of civic and political affairs  

About Rural Urban Bridge Initiative: The Rural Urban Bridge Initiative is a national organization dedicated to helping people understand and overcome the rural urban divide through three program areas: Research and analysis; education and training; and concrete action initiatives, including national policy work.

Take this time for quiet reflection or meditation, to engage in one of our arts activities, or to connect with workshop providers, fellow attendees, and Council staff. Refreshments will be available in Normandie Lounge and Salon A.

Take this time for quiet reflection or meditation, to engage in one of our arts activities, or to connect with workshop providers, fellow attendees, and Council staff. Refreshments will be available in Normandie Lounge and Salon A.

What does it look like to take one small step toward navigating divides? StoryCorps Founder Dave Isay and CEO Sandra M. Clark will share their work bringing together strangers who disagree on politics for one conversation to move beyond labels and learn about each other's lives. StoryCorps research shows that being open to hearing people’s stories, even when they are unfamiliar or challenging, can help us to move beyond assumptions, hate, and division and toward authentic connections and a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.

Take this time for quiet reflection or meditation, to engage in one of our arts activities, or to connect with workshop providers, fellow attendees, and Council staff. Refreshments will be available in Normandie Lounge and Salon A.

Wednesday evening’s CEO & Trustee Reception will provide the opportunity to network with your peers. Registrants will receive their official invitation one month prior to the event.

Travel around India through dance! In this interactive presentation, we journey through different regions of India trying out the dances (and using fun props) while learning the stories of people in that region. No prior dance experience necessary. 

Join us for a fun movie night with snacks and comradery as we screen the documentary Join or Die. Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it.  In the film, Harvard scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis.  Join your colleagues to explore three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly, what can we do about it?

Join your fellow early risers for a healthy breakfast.

Through mindfulness, yoga, and restorative practices, we will be laying the foundation to pause and drop into conscious relaxation. By creating more space, we are setting conditions to be with ourselves and with the “weather” as it is, so we can choose our behavior, rewiring our ability to expand our options. Through practice, we learn to shift out of our habitual reactions and bring awareness to how we are being present, which affects how we are showing up in our lives, in our world and with each other. Bring your Practice Guides and pens.

Toxic polarization is contributing to falling engagement across civic life, with a contentious election ratcheting up tensions even further. How did we get here? And how do we get out with American democracy intact? In our closing plenary session, Amanda Ripley, author of “High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out” will help us understand how we can disrupt the cycles that push us apart and instead engage in “good conflict” that connects us across divides and catalyzes solutions for the future. Following Amanda’s remarks, Wendy Feliz from the Arthur M. Blank Foundation will lead a discussion on repairing our fractured civic life with Layla Zaidane and Ali Noorani. Together, they will help us make sense of these tumultuous times and share strategies for how funders can invest in rebuilding trust in democracy, renewing civic engagement, and building a shared commitment, across our differences, to an inclusive and thriving multiracial democracy.

Take this time for quiet reflection or meditation, to engage in one of our arts activities, or to connect with workshop providers, fellow attendees, and Council staff. Refreshments will be available in Normandie Lounge and Salon A.

The work of social cohesion can be fraught with tensions, both practical and philosophical, that can be challenging to funders who are seeking to de-escalate conflict and imagine a more equitable society for all. What is the relationship between social cohesion and social justice, including DEI and racial equity goals? In what ways do policy and advocacy contribute to polarization, or cohesion? Is social cohesion primarily about relationships or systems? PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement) convened twenty funders in a six-month long learning journey aimed at exploring and navigating these points of tensions in advancing social cohesion. In this session we will share learnings, reflections, and takeaways from this group of funders, and offer space for you to weigh in on some of these challenges of navigating the work of social cohesion.

America’s rural communities and small towns are made up of a kaleidoscope of populations that include Native American and reservation communities, immigrants and refugees, Latinos, Asians, Africans, LGBTQ+ communities, and more.  There are a variety of successful efforts underway to build bridges in these communities, often among uncommon partners. This session will explore how funders in rural communities and small towns have nurtured the ability to bridge across differences, examine what can be learned from their efforts, and lift up what success can look like and how other funders can follow their lead.

Since 2005, there has been an exponential decline in local news. This has happened at the same time that we’re all experiencing an increasingly divided world and a lack of trust in public institutions. In 2023, 22 funders joined together to create a large, pooled fund to support strategies to build civil conversations and resources through diverse local news and journalism and to combat misinformation and divisive narratives. Join this session to hear how and why this collaborative came together across political divides, and how you can implement strategies that build capacity for local news organizations.

Join us for an insightful panel discussion that delves into the heart of Arizona's innovative efforts to strengthen civic health. This session brings together a diverse group of leaders at the forefront of fostering community collaboration, inclusive dialogue, and strategic philanthropy to navigate and bridge the state's unique political context. Through a blend of case studies, data-driven insights, and firsthand experiences, participants will uncover the power of cross-sector partnerships, the importance of community voice, and actionable strategies for philanthropic engagement in civic health initiatives.
The session aims to illuminate the path forward for philanthropy leaders seeking to catalyze change in their communities, regardless of political climate. By focusing on Arizona's unique context, participants will explore how intentional collaboration and innovative leadership can bridge ideological differences, create inclusive dialogues, and strengthen the fabric of civic life. This discussion will highlight Arizona's leaders' successes and challenges and encourage a rich exchange of ideas, fostering a collective vision for a more engaged and healthy civic future.

100 million Americans attend religious services nearly every week, and millions of others act in ways that are guided by teachings from their faith traditions.  Despite the decline in religious adherence, it is still a powerful force in America society.  At the same time, faith can evoke strong feelings for those that belong to religious communities and for those that don’t. For some, faith traditions, and the communities around them, appear to be the cause of fractures in our civic life. Firmly held religious beliefs are used as justification for alienating othering, and faith-based beliefs get co-opted by political leaders.

Pluralism is essential to building durable solutions to our hardest challenges. Every community contains difference, and this difference inevitably creates friction and conflict. Pluralism is an invitation to work creatively with that diversity, by putting us to work together across our differences. Many communities, organizations and institutions function as part of segregated systems, making it hard for people to understand each other’s perspectives, realities, or intentions. When we leave people out or only act with limited self-interest, our solutions can cause unintended harm or miss root causes. Funders can reinforce these differences, framing challenges, shaping strategies, and investing in ways that inadvertently widen divisions in the name of progress.

We can design for pluralism. Join this session to understand what that means and how to do it. Hear practical examples from community leaders and your philanthropic peers about how they’ve shaped strategies, created spaces, built practices, and baked in structural supports to build trust, make meaning, exchange ideas, and solve challenges with unlikely friends.

When a community has been fractured by violent divides, coming back together to find common ground can feel insurmountable. Too many communities are experiencing traumatic events and continued structural violence including race-based violence, mass shootings, or use of excessive force in communities of color, as well as dangerous clashing over divides in perspectives and opinions when these events happen. Funders are responding! Late last year, the Omidyar Network launched a new strategy within its Building Cultures of Belonging focus area, "Cultivating Repair" to explore and support multiple seeds of repair and healing taking root in the US, and to support a growing ecosystem of efforts to heal past and present-day harms stemming from the legacies of colonialism and slavery in the United States. Join this session to learn more about the work and their partners who are pursuing restorative, transformative, and holistic practices for healing in their communities.

(CEO-Only Session) CEOs in philanthropy are experiencing a leadership moment where they are challenged with developing and growing a set of counterintuitive skills, mindsets, and approaches to external and internal division. Following Amanda’s plenary talk, join this interactive CEO-only session to workshop a specific conflict that one of your fellow CEOs has been dealing with--and then practice a tactical listening skill that you can use right away. A chance to learn (in practical ways) what it means to hold the space for complexity when you’re being pressured to pick a side. 

Civic awareness is declining throughout the nation. This directly impacts our future but there are ways to make a difference through education. Although not always recognized, youth civic engagement can influence change within communities. How can we encourage youth involvement in ways that build skills, engender trust, and authentically create opportunities for civic engagement across divides?

This session highlights Civics Bee, a national competition focused on middle-school students that helps improve civics literacy. You’ll take away tips and lessons learned for implementing a strategy to nurture the next generation of participants in democratic society.

Addressing the climate crisis is, in many ways, the flight of our lives. Ensuring a safe and stable climate is a profound example of protecting our collective commons, and doing so at speed and scale requires allies across “big greens” and grassroots, age, political views, race, ability, and more. Join this session to meet talented leaders and learn more about their innovative work across communities, addressing inequality, and activating unlikely allies to increase influence. Alongside a creative and inspirational mix of initiatives, we will learn more about Mosaic, a funding initiative that that centers diverse participation in grantmaking to build productive relationships among movement leaders while strengthening climate advocates across the country. 

Bus departs hotel: 2:00 p.m. 
Bus returns to hotel: 5:00 p.m. 

Join Chicago Historian, Dilla, from Chicago Mahogany, on a bus tour of the Bronzeville neighborhood. Dilla is a fascinating blend of modern historian, cultural worker, and public employee, who became a Chicago social media sensation by going viral on TikTok. He lives by the saying “everything dope about America comes from Chicago.”

Visit sites like the birthplace of Black History Month, the Eighth Infantry Armory, and the Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Building. There is a wealth of history to learn about on the tour, from the site of the first open heart surgery to the birthplace of gospel music. The tour also includes a stop at the Bronzeville Winery, where guests can spend time socializing and networking in an inviting space that highlights a revolving art collection. Wine tastings may be purchased onsite.

Cost: $75 per person (includes round-trip bus transportation)