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Chris Gates

Chris Gates is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Philanthropy Bridging Divides initiative, a trans-partisan effort to explore how philanthropy can help bridge divides in America. He also works with a variety of philanthropic and non-profit organizations on the issues of philanthropic practice, democracy reform and civic engagement. Gates previously lead three national organizations. He served as President of the Sunlight Foundation, the first Executive Director of PACE, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement, and as President of the National Civic League (NCL), America’s oldest good government organization. Gates serves on the boards of Public Agenda, a public opinion research and public engagement organization, and Open Secrets. He serves as a member of the board of advisors of the National Conference on Citizenship and the National Civic League, and is the co-founder of the Intermountain West Funders Network.
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    Leadership

    Building bridges isn't just 'right' — it's practical

    Chris Gates
    Mark Gerzon
    https://twitter.com/gates5280?lang=en
    December 13, 2021
    bridging the partisan divide
    timsa/Getty Images

    Gates and Gerzon are co-directors of Philanthropy Bridging Divides, a transpartisan conversation among America's philanthropic leaders.

    After examining “anti-bridgers” and “faux bridging” in our previous two columns, it is clear that genuinely "bridging divides" is challenging, rare and difficult. It is hard work, requires skillful facilitation, an open mind and ongoing care. It means that one has to be open to listening to other perspectives and learning from those with other points of view. It means making oneself vulnerable, recognizing that even our strongest-held beliefs might need to be reexamined.

    Earlier in our careers we were both warriors, sure of our points of view and eager to beat down the other side. But it has become clear to both of us that the victories earned via battle are truly pyrrhic. Little or no real progress endures. Our side wins today; their side wins tomorrow; and the country careens from left to right, slowly but surely losing its way.

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    bridge building

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    Leveraging big ideas

    The problem with 'false bridging'

    Chris Gates
    Mark Gerzon
    https://twitter.com/gates5280?lang=en
    November 03, 2021
    broken bridge
    ZargonDesign/Getty Images

    Gates and Gerzon are co-directors of Philanthropy Bridging Divides, a transpartisan conversation among America's philanthropic leaders.

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    bridge building
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