Working Across Differences
Indicates Members-Only Content
DeAngelo Bester is the Executive Director of the Workers Center for Racial Justice, an organization's whose work spans the states of Illinois and Wisconsin. He has worked as both a community and labor organizer for nearly 20 years. DeAngelo has led local, state, and national organizing campaigns…
Shelly Kasprzycki was introduced to community foundations early in life. She received a scholarship from a community foundation and wrote her first grant at age 22. She spent time in the nonprofit sector and became president and CEO of Jackson Community Foundation in 2002. In 2021, Shelly was…
Coming Together, Not Apart: Publications
Publication
Coming Together, Not Apart, is a three-publication series exploring philanthropy's involvement in developing the heartset, mindset, and skillset to lead collaboratively across differences. Specifically:Part 1: How Philanthropy Supports Connection in a Time of Dangerous DivisionComing…
Coming Together, Not Apart: Building the Hearts, Minds, and Skills for Leading Across Differences
Publication
Coming Together, Not Apart: Building the Hearts, Minds, and Skills for Leading Across Differences is the third of three Council on Foundations publications exploring philanthropy's involvement in developing the heartset, mindset, and skillset to lead collaboratively across differences. It discusses…
Jason joined the Cleveland Foundation in 2017 where he works with individuals, families and nonprofit organizations to achieve their philanthropic goals. He is a certified 21/64 facilitator in family philanthropy and is an alumni of the 2025 Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort at the Council on…
Fostering Belonging Across Colorado
By Erika Montes, Belonging Colorado Program Lead at The Denver FoundationCommunities thrive when people feel they belong. Feeling connected and having a sense of belonging is not just a "nice-to-have"-it is essential for physical and mental health. In schools, belonging improves academic…
2026 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…
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 for…
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 for…
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 for…
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 for…
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 for…
Caroline Mehl is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Constructive Dialogue Institute. She has expertise in translating psychological research into innovative real-world applications. In her role, Caroline advises universities, workplaces, philanthropists, and communities on how to create…
Building Common Ground Survey
Research
This survey was conducted by Hattaway Communications from September 30 to October 8, 2025, to better understand how Americans think about connecting and collaborating across differences and the role that foundations should play.1,000 American adults—nationally representative by age, gender, race/…
Q and A: What is Building Together 2026?
Building Together isn’t your typical conference — it’s a hands-on experience to help leaders at all levels build relationships and skills to connect and collaborate across difference. During the conference, you will learn, process, and practice in real time while developing the heartset,…
Laura Livingston is the Senior Director of Field Support at Over Zero, an organization dedicated to building societal resilience to political and identity-based violence. Since joining the organization in 2017, her role has focused on bridging research and practice to develop strategies, tools, and…