Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort
Apply for the Leadership Cohort
Applications are due by Friday, February 21 at 11:59 PT.
The Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort is a facilitated virtual learning experience that supports funders looking to build constructive dialogue and understanding across differences. Hosted by the Council on Foundations in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley (GGSC), the cohort meets monthly from April thru November and supports the work of the Council's Building Common Ground Strategic Pillar.
Facilitated by GGSC Senior Fellow Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, the discussions will center on science-backed skills covered in the GGSC’s Bridging Differences online course, which offer research-based strategies for bridging differences with colleagues, peers, and grantees.
Along the way, participants take in real-world case studies and connect with peers on challenges, successes, and lessons learned.
About the Program
You can watch the recording of our 2024 webinar, How Philanthropy Is Investing in Belonging, Bridging, and Building Common Ground, or our 2023 webinar, From Polarization to Collaboration: Philanthropy’s Role in Bridging Differences.
Cohort Alumni:
Alumni of the Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort continue to engage with each other and remain involved in bridging efforts through the Council.
2024 Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort Alumni
2023 Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort Alumni
Learning Objectives
- Develop a deeper understanding of the science-based practices to bridge differences.
- Connect with leading researchers, fellow philanthropy practitioners, and other nonprofit sector leaders who are doing this work, ideally identifying new collaborators and confidants on your journey.
- Develop new skills and knowledge to inform your philanthropic work.
Cohort Facilitator
Dr. Allison Briscoe Smith
Senior Fellow
Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley
Program Details
Members of the Cohort will:
- Meet on monthly Zoom calls where they will learn from guest instructors, including leading practitioners and researchers, and connect with other participants in smaller-group discussions and creative exercises. See full schedule.
- New in 2025: Additional skills session with Resetting the Table. (This is a second scheduled session in July.)
- Complete the self-paced eight-module Bridging Differences online course.
- Have access to optional office hours with our facilitator and other participants
- Receive a certificate upon completion of the course.
Schedule
- Orientation – April 8, 2025, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET
- Session One: Intro to Bridging Differences – April 29, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Office Hour 1 (Optional) – May 13, 2025, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
- Session Two: Challenge Your Views – May 27, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Leading Locally 2025 in-person Pre-conference Meetup (Optional) – Information Forthcoming
- Session 3A: Active Listening – June 17, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Session 3B: Naming Differences (Facilitated By: Resetting the Table) – July 15 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
- Session Four: Compassionate Speaking – July 29, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Session Five: Recognize Shared Identities and Values – August 26, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Office Hour 2 (Optional) – September 16, 2025, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
- Session Six: Identify Common Goals – September 30, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Session Seven: Intergroup Contact – October 28, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Office Hour 3 (Optional) – November 4, 2025, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
- Session Eight: Closing and Takeaways – November 18, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Speakers
Leah Anyanwu
Program Specialist
LEGO Foundation
David Beckman
President
Pisces Foundation
Ricardo G. Huerta Niño
Associate Director
San Francisco Foundation
Ryanne Jennings
President/CEO
Wayne County Community Foundation
Leah Reiser
Chief Training Officer
Resetting the Table
Melissa Rhodes Carter
Senior Manager, Community Resilience
Walmart
Eligibility
The cohort is open to individual staff members and teams from foundations and philanthropies.
It is a good fit for individuals and teams who are already working to foster more constructive dialogue, relationships, and understanding across lines of difference AND those who want to get started. We welcome and encourage participants from all stages of their career – from young professionals to program managers to C-suite – to create cross-level conversations from various viewpoints.
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the online application form by Friday, February 21, 2024 at midnight Pacific. Applicants will be informed of their acceptance in the middle of March. Accepted applicants will have two weeks to submit registration fees, provide a photo and short bio.
You need to be logged in to access the application form. Use the "Login" button in the menu or go to account.cof.org to log in. Don't have an account? You can create an account for free. You do not need to be a Council on Foundations member to create an account or to apply for this cohort.
Cost
The Council aims to make our programming available at rates that are accessible to a wide range of organizations. For this leadership cohort, we have adopted a sliding scale structure to allow participation from foundations of different sizes. Council members who participate in this cohort will pay in the following tiers, according to their Council organizational dues amounts. If needed, you can calculate your organization’s dues amount at cof.org/membership or can reach out to membership@cof.org.
Members
Organizational Council dues $10,000 or greater
$1,099
Organizational Council dues between $3,000 and $9,999
$799
Organizational Council dues less than $3,000
$499
Non-Members
Non-Member pricing
$1,549
Group Registration
Participants who register with one or more colleagues from their organization will receive a 10% discount on each registration. Each participant must submit an individual application.
FAQs
Previous participants valued gaining new skills for their work, experienced personal growth, and shared insights with their organizations. Some cohort alumni approach bridge building with more intentionality and confidence while it deepened and reaffirmed the practices of others.
Past participants who attended with at least one other member from their organization shared the following benefits:
- Opportunity to synthesize learnings with peers that understand their day-to-day environment
- Potential for meaningful, cross-level interactions within their organizational context
- More support for achieving goals and making organizational shifts in practice
The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society. Its multimedia resources, including its online magazine, Greater Good, reach well over 1 million people each month. The Greater Good Science Center's Bridging Differences initiative identifies and spreads the top research-based strategies for fostering more constructive dialogue, relationships, and understanding across group lines, including through its popular Bridging Differences Playbook and related online course.
Completing the cohort welcomes participants into the network of alumni motivated to bridge differences in the philanthropic sector. There is an opportunity to engage in further programming with the Council. Participants are also eligible to receive a certificate jointly provided by the Greater Good Science Center and Council on Foundations, acknowledging their participation in the cohort.
Individuals from nonmember organizations are invited to apply and will be fully considered for a place in the program.
The course provides a foundational understanding of bridging differences from a North American cultural context with domestic case studies and speakers demonstrating US-based solutions. However, past participants from international foundations who engage with U.S. stakeholders have highly rated the course.
The information needed to complete an application is below. Please note that you may start an application and save a draft at any time.
Profile Information
- First & Last Name
- What perspectives and identities do you hold that would contribute to conversations about bridging differences? (short answer)
- Job Title
- Organization
- Is your organization a member of the Council? (Multiple Choice: Yes\No\I’m not sure)
- Short Bio (Up to 200 words)
- Are you applying as a team with someone else from your organization? (Check if Yes)
- If you are applying as a team, what is your colleague’s name? (short answer)
Short Essay Questions
- Respond to one of the following:
- A) Why is bridging differences important to your work in philanthropy? (Up to 200 words)
- B) How are you already engaged in work to bridge differences? What are the goals of this work? What impact have you seen? (Up to 200 words)
- Why do you want to participate in the Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort? What do you hope to learn? And how will you apply what you learn to your work in philanthropy? (Up to 200 words)
Log in to your Council on Foundations account and submit the application.
To apply, you must have a Council on Foundations account, but membership is not required. If you do not have an account, visit https://account.cof.org/nc__createaccount to create one.
If you are unsure whether you have a Council account, or don’t remember your password, go to https://account.cof.org and select the “Forgot Password” link. If you have an account, an email will be sent to you with instructions to reset your password.
Applicants will be informed of their acceptance in the middle of March. Accepted applicants will have two weeks to submit registration fees, provide a photo and short bio. Once these steps are complete, the applicant will be confirmed as a participant in the 2025 cohort. The program will officially begin with orientation on April 8 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET.
