No matter your political or philosophical orientation, nor how you voted in the election, we can likely agree on the continued polarization and erosion of civil discourse in our country.

There are any number of factors exacerbating our inability to talk to one another in a civil way: political upheaval, increased racial tensions, the economic and social impact of the pandemic, social media, the 24-hour news cycle, and the list goes on.

It’s easy to despair and watch from the sidelines. But there are ongoing efforts to counterbalance the trend. And philanthropy can cultivate a more civil dialogue in our communities and country.

This August, Exponent Philanthropy convened a Virtual Roundtable for members to explore their concerns and ideas, and to tap into the wisdom of two national thought-leaders working in this field: Malka Ranjana Kopell, co-founder and CEO of Civity; and Jonathan Lever, chief operating officer and EVP of the Fetzer Institute.

I interviewed Malka and Jonathan following the roundtable to delve deeper into how lean funders can better influence political civil discourse.

Malka and Jonathan: Civity’s mission is to create a culture of relationships based on respect and empathy across difference. The Fetzer Institute’s mission is to help build the spiritual foundation for a loving world. We both fundamentally understand polarization as a heart-level challenge. Too many of us have closed and hardened our hearts toward those on the other side. Too often, we engage them not as fellow citizens who deserve our respect and solidarity, but as hostile strangers to be met with suspicion and fear.

Fortunately, this bridging is possible. While efforts to address isolation and polarization in America can seem overwhelming, the exhausted majority has more in common than we may realize.

Read the full article about constructive civil discourse by Jeffrey M. Glebocki at Exponent Philanthropy.