Gulf Coast Community Foundation Joins Council on Foundation’s Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort

April 24, 2024 – Venice 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) is pleased to announce that three of its team members (Strategic Engagement Manager Kelly Borgia, Community Leadership Associate Hollie Mowry, and Interim Vice President of Philanthropy Sasha Pyatte) have joined the Council on Foundation’s Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort which envisions philanthropy playing an essential part in cultivating a diverse, inclusive democracy where everyone belongs. Sixty-five participants across 46 organizations representing a diversity of viewpoints, experiences, geographies, and backgrounds were chosen for the cohort. The Council on Foundations, with a 75-year history, is a nonprofit membership association that serves as a guide for philanthropies as they advance the greater good. The cohort will meet virtually on a monthly basis from April to November 2024, in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. The discussions will center on science-backed skills covered in the Greater Good Science Center’s Bridging Differences online course, which offers research-based strategies for bridging differences with colleagues, peers, and grantees. 

The learning objectives of the program include developing a deeper understanding of the science-based practices to bridge differences; connecting with leading researchers, fellow philanthropy practitioners, and other nonprofit sector leaders who are doing this work, ideally identifying new collaborators and confidants on the journey, and developing new skills and knowledge to inform Gulf Coast’s philanthropic work. “The Council’s Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort is an incredible program that we are honored to be a part of as we develop skills and strategies to bridge differences – big and small – in our community. I am confident that Kelly, Hollie, and Sasha will bring back important tools for our Foundation, such as growing their skills on learning and practicing how to be an active listener and compassionate speaker, while becoming better relationship builders and connectors,” said Gulf Coast’s President | CEO Phillip Lanham. “This is a sound investment in our team that will impact Gulf Coast’s transformational work with our philanthropists and the community.” 

Members of the cohort will connect and learn from colleagues around the world, as there are participants from all areas of the U.S. as well as some from The LEGO Foundation in Denmark and Templeton World Charity Foundation in the Bahamas. The cohort 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. 

To learn more, please visit cof.org/page/bridging-differences-leadership-cohort.