Communicating Across Divides: A Facilitation Intensive

Join Resetting the Table (RTT) and the Council on Foundations for a training that offers a comprehensive framework for facilitating courageous and constructive communication across lines of difference.

Through this intensive training, philanthropic leaders will build advanced facilitation skills grounded in RTT’s rigorous, evidence-based framework for deepening connection, trust, and collaboration while addressing strong differences directly. Participants will also receive extensive hands-on practice, individualized coaching, and consultation to help apply these actionable tools in their leadership and work. 

The training intensive includes an in-person opening retreat, five+ virtual training sessions in facilitation skills and troubleshooting interventions, customized practice sessions in pairs with RTT coaches, and 1:1 consultation on how to integrate tools and skills into individual participants’ unique contexts. 

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Table of Contents

• Who should apply
• Application process
• Goals and Learning Objectives
• Program Schedule
• What is Resetting the Table?

Who should apply?

Philanthropic leaders of all levels from grantmaking organizations that are full (not associate) Council on Foundations members are eligible to apply and join the training intensive. Applicants should demonstrate their interest in bridge-building training AND describe how they plan to implement what they will learn.

This training is limited to 18 participants. Applicants must commit to attending the opening in-person retreat and five virtual sessions. We expect to have many more applications than spots available.

Application process:

Please complete the application. Finalist interviews will take place in early November, and notifications will be made by December 1. Those invited to join will be asked to confirm their participation by December 8, 2025.

Cost: $7,500 per person

Location: In-person opening retreat (location TBD) on February 4 and 5, followed by virtual sessions on Zoom. See detailed schedule below.

Applications are due by October 24, 2025. Please contact Wendy Torrance if you have questions about the application and/or Council membership status, and Leah Reiser if you have questions about the training and program. We encourage you to share this opportunity with colleagues or others that you think might benefit from joining the training intensive.

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Goals and Learning Objectives

Goals: Participants will gain greater capacity, confidence and hands-on experience in facilitating difficult, important communication across charged differences in their communities and work.

Participants who continue with optional training in April will receive further training in leading RTT’s flagship Speaking Across Conflict Workshop (SAC) and will be equipped to train others in the tools and skills for courageous and constructive communication across differences.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn and practice core facilitation skills for achieving collaborative conversations across differences (e.g., Following Meaning, Demonstrating Understanding, and Naming Differences). 
• Participants will build capacity to use these skills to support participants and constituents to achieve connection and mutual receptivity while addressing differences directly.
• Participants will learn and practice an approach to troubleshooting challenging group dynamics. 
• Participants will model meaningful dialogue across differences on important issues within a curated group of philanthropic leaders. 
• Participants will learn concrete exercises they can replicate in their own arenas.

Program Schedule

The facilitation intensive includes an in-person opening retreat, five+ 2.5-hour virtual training sessions, and one coached 90-minute practice session. 

Participants who elect for the continued “Train-the-Trainers” series — equipping leaders to teach RTT skills and run the Speaking Across Conflict Workshop — will receive an additional two 2.5-hour training sessions and one additional coached practice session. 

All virtual sessions will take place on Zoom from 1:00-3:30 p.m. ET.

Schedule: 

• Wednesday–Thursday, February 4–5 (In Person)
  • Skill I: Following Meaning
  • Skill II: Demonstrating Understanding
  • Skill III: Naming Differences
• February 6–February 18 (Zoom)
  • Coached Practice Session in Pairs (one 90-min. session scheduled around trainees’ availability)
• Thursday, February 12 (Zoom)
  • Optional: Working with Your Own Reactivity
• Thursday, February 19 (Zoom)
  • Putting it All Together: Facilitating in the Flow of a Conversation
• Thursday, February 26 (Zoom)
  • Troubleshooting Challenging Group Dynamics: Hurt, Upset, and Frustrated Participants
• Thursday, March 5 (Zoom)
  • Troubleshooting Challenging Group Dynamics II: Power and Identity
• Thursday, March 12 (Zoom)
  • Troubleshooting Challenging Group Dynamics III: Escalation
• Thursday, March 19 (Zoom)
  • Practical Applications and Practice 

Continued “Train-the-Trainers” Series:
(This series is optional. There is no additional fee to participate.)

• Thursday, April 9 (Zoom)
  • Introductory Overview to the Speaking Across Conflict (SAC) Workshop
• Thursday, April 16 (Zoom)
  • Coaching for the SAC Workshop
• April–June
  • Practice Sessions in Pairs and Planning for Leading SAC Workshop (two 60-90 min. sessions, scheduled around trainee’s availability)
• Timing TBD
  • Closing Session and Celebration

What is Resetting the Table?

Resetting the Table (RTT) equips leaders and communities with tools and skills to overcome toxic polarization and build social trust and cohesion in the U.S. Drawing from mediation and facilitation expertise, RTT has developed one of the most recognized frameworks and training programs for meaningful communication across differences of background and views. Through rigorous training, courageous dialogue, and rehumanizing media content, Resetting the Table transforms political differences into an engine of strengthened relationship, collective insight, and creative problem-solving. RTT’s programs have reached more than 90,000 participants, many of them philanthropists, higher education administrators, award-winning TV writers, faith leaders, and other multipliers positioned to make far-reaching culture change.