Applications Now Open
Apply by September 4 to join the Community Foundations Working Across Differences Accelerator.
As trusted civic leaders, community foundations are uniquely positioned to bring people together to drive shared progress across differences. To support these efforts, the Council has launched a new grant opportunity to help community foundations deepen and expand their impact in working across differences.
The Community Foundations Working Across Differences Accelerator provides the funding and tools necessary to design and implement strategies tailored to working across differences in local communities, including:
- Direct funding: Financial support to power local work, including a $20,000 planning grant and the potential for $45,000 in follow-on funding for early implementation.
- Capacity-building: Wrap-around support from expert coaches and a structured learning agenda to develop the skills and perspective to work across differences.
- Peer collaboration: Dedicated spaces to build relationships and share strategies with fellow community foundation leaders.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible, community foundations (as defined by Community Foundations National Standards) must be from the United States. Preference will be given to Council members, though non-members may also apply. Organizations that currently employ members of the Council on Foundations’ Board of Directors are not eligible for this award. Preference will go to organizations planning for enduring engagement, either in their communities or in their organizations.
See the full list of requirements for more information.
How to apply:
Applications to join the accelerator program will be due September 4, 2026. Apply to join the Community Foundations Working Across Differences Accelerator using the online application.
Please direct questions about this program to knowledge@cof.org.
What to expect if you are selected:
Organizations chosen to participate will receive a planning grant of $20,000 and begin their participation in November 2026.
Selected organizations agree to
- Nominate staff to participate in a virtual peer learning circle, which will meet every other month, centered around an intentional learning agenda
- Receive coaching from the Council’s working across differences network of partners
- Participate in at least one additional capacity-building learning opportunity such as the Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort and Building Cultures of Dialogue workshops
Additional Information
This work is generously supported by
