Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort
Applications Now Open
Join our 2026 Cohort! Applications are due by Friday, February 20 at 11:59 p.m. 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 through November (with an orientation in March) 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
Have questions about the cohort or your application? Drop in to the Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort Application Q&A on Wednesday, February 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET. You can also email Council staff at any time.
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.
- Further skills development will be provided through a second scheduled session in June with Resetting the Table.
- 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.
Cohort Members and Alumni
Since 2023, Alumni of the Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort continue to engage with each other and remain involved in bridging efforts through the Council. Meet the 2025 Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort.
2026 Cohort Schedule
- Orientation – March 26, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET
- Session One: Intro to Bridging Differences – April 28, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Building Together 2026 in-person Pre-conference Welcome Lounge (Optional) – May 4, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. PT
- Session Two: Challenge Your Views – May 19, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Session 3A: Active Listening – June 9, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Session 3B: Naming Differences (Facilitated By: Resetting the Table) – June 23, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
- Office Hour 1 (Optional) – July 14, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
- Session Four: Compassionate Speaking – July 28, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Session Five: Recognize Shared Identities and Values – August 25, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Office Hour 2 (Optional) – September 15, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
- Session Six: Identify Common Goals – September 29, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Session Seven: Intergroup Contact – October 27, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Office Hour 3 (Optional) – November 3, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
- Session Eight: Closing and Takeaways – November 17, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Past Speakers Include:
Leah Anyanwu
Program Specialist
LEGO Foundation
David Beckman
President
Pisces Foundation
Jason Garrett
Vice President of Faith, Bridging and Belonging
Freedom Together Foundation
Ricardo G. Huerta Niño
Associate Director
San Francisco Foundation
Ryanne Jennings
President/CEO
Wayne County Community Foundation
Zeyba Rahman
Board Member
Grantmakers in the Arts
Leah Reiser
Chief Training Officer
Resetting the Table
Melissa Rhodes Carter
Senior Manager, Community Resilience
Walmart
Eligibility
The cohort is open to individuals and teams from foundations and giving programs.
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 and board members – to create cross-level conversations from various viewpoints.
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the online application form by 11:59 p.m. PT on Friday, February 20, 2026. We recommend submitting your application for consideration well ahead of the deadline. Applicants will be informed of their acceptance in March. Accepted applicants will have two weeks to submit registration fees and provide a photo and short bio.
We encourage you to log into cof.org so you can save your draft and return to it at any time. Use the "Login" button in the menu or go to https://cof.org/sso/login 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
Council dues less than $4,000
$499
Council dues between $4,000 and $15,000
$799
Council dues greater than $15,000
$1,099
Nonmembers
All nonmembers
$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. Past participants from international foundations who engage with U.S. stakeholders have highly rated the course.
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)
Applicants will be informed of their acceptance in late February/early 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 2026 cohort. The program will officially begin with orientation on March 26 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET.
