Building Common Ground
Marie Cleaves Rothacker
Marie Cleaves Rothacker is passionate about connecting across differences. She does this through her work as a trained dancer and movement teacher along with her full-time position in Donor Services at the Lancaster County Community Foundation. Having navigated firsthand the many divides we…
Richard Woo
Richard volunteers as Vice Chair of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation’s Board of Directors in Pierce County, Washington. His personal mission statement is to “build whole, affirming and just community through deep listening, reflecting and storytelling.”
Richard is also on the Board of the…
Laura Speer
Laura Speer is the Director of Strategy at the Annie E. Casey Foundation where she works with the Senior Leadership Team to develop and implement the Foundation’s vision of a brighter future for all young people in the United States. Prior to her current position, Laura had primary…
Leading Across Differences - January Peer Learning Circle
This peer learning circle is designed to facilitate connections, build relationships, and foster candid discussion about the rewards and challenges of working to connect and collaborate across differences. Meeting every other month, the peer learning circle provides a supportive environment…
2025 Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort Application Q&A
Are you looking for a supportive community of funders to help you build constructive dialogue and understanding across differences? You’ll get just that with the Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort.
The Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort is a facilitated virtual learning experience meeting…
Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - September/October 2025
Taught by a variety of seasoned and experienced community foundation leaders and Council experts, this course helps community foundation staff and board members master the unique aspects of the community foundation field. You'll learn about effective practices, get helpful tools and information,…
Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - August 2025
Taught by a variety of seasoned and experienced community foundation leaders and Council experts, this course helps community foundation staff and board members master the unique aspects of the community foundation field. You'll learn about effective practices, get helpful tools and information,…
Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - May 2025
Taught by a variety of seasoned and experienced community foundation leaders and Council experts, this course helps community foundation staff and board members master the unique aspects of the community foundation field. You'll learn about effective practices, get helpful tools and information,…
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Our Enduring Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Philanthropy has a profound responsibility to champion the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all facets of American life, from culture and political ideology, to race, ethnicity and sexual identity, to geography and…
Coming Together, Not Apart: How Philanthropy Supports Connection in a Time of Dangerous Division
Publication
Coming Together, Not Apart: How Philanthropy Supports Connection in a Time of Dangerous Division is the first of three Council on Foundations publications exploring philanthropy's involvement in developing the heartset, mindset, and skillset to lead collaboratively across differences. It dives deep…
Tim Wilmot
As Director of Engaged Learning at The Denver Foundation, Dr. Tim Wilmot works to center the perspectives of those at the heart of the Foundation’s work and to measure and report on outcomes. Tim has 15 years of experience in philanthropy, developing and implementing strategies for assessing…
Coming Together, Not Apart - References
Table of contents:
Part 1 | Part 2
Part 1 of 3:
How Philanthropy Supports Connection in a Time of Dangerous Division
See Kleinfeld, R. (2023). “Polarization, Democracy, and Political Violence in the United States: What the Research Says.” Working Paper. Carnegie Endowment for International…
2024 Annual Member Meeting
Join us for the Council's Annual Member Meeting. The virtual Member Meeting will:
Feature the State of the Council address from Kathleen Enright, President and CEO, Council on Foundations;
Approve nominations for the Board of Directors.
In advance, please also register to participate in the…
2024 Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort
The Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort is a facilitated virtual learning experience meeting monthly from April 2024 through November 2024, hosted by the Council on Foundations in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley (GGSC). Cohort members expressed their interest in…
To Help Bridge Differences, Philanthropy Should Invest in Strong Institutions
This blog is part of the Council's Dialogue Across Difference series. In this space, we will share your viewpoints: In a time of polarization and mistrust, how can philanthropy bridge across difference?
Institutions are the vehicles through which we negotiate our differences. These days,…
Info Session: Why Building Together 2024 Is the Place to Be
Do you have questions about Building Together 2024? Join us for an info session to hear more about how this new, sector-wide event will teach you the skills to bridge differences in a highly polarized society, with:
Amazing speakers like David Brooks, Mónica Guzmán, and Amanda Ripley;
Half-day…