The Embracing Disruption Cohort is a 15 month capacity building program developed to support organizations as they navigate an increasingly unpredictable world.
The 2026 Embracing Disruption application is open!
Application Closes: June 5, 2026
Program launches in September 2026.
Embracing Disruption is designed for:
- Organizations who are receptive to change and reflect strong leadership. Agencies must field a leadership team of at least four members of staff and board.
- Leadership Team members need to be committed to stay with the team to monitor the progress of the capacity work plan and stay engaged for the entire 15 month period.
- Organizations must have ongoing programming that is critical to serving the communities within Onondaga, Madison, or Oswego Counties.
- Want to learn more? Set up a meeting with Gifford’s Associate Director Lindsay McClung.
Calling All Consultants!
We are currently searching for consultants to coach our next Embracing Disruption cohort. The deadline to submit your proposals is June 15, 2026. To be considered, you must have successfully completed the Lifecycles 101 training (the next available training is May 7&8, 2026). Click the link below to learn more.
The Embracing Disruption Cohort is a 15 month cohort capacity building program developed to support organizations as they navigate a rapidly changing environment. The curriculum uses a Nonprofit Lifecycles approach to organizational development. This program is designed to host five organizations through a self-assessment, planning process, and capacity implementation period. While similar to past Gifford programs like POWER and ADVANS, the Embracing Disruption Cohort program focuses heavily on building organizational resiliency in our increasingly unpredictable world.
The program design uses concepts developed under the direction of organizational consultant Dr. Susan Kenny Stevens. This “meet them where they are” approach is known as the Nonprofit Lifecycles Approach to capacity building. The Gifford Foundation launches this capacity building initiative with lead consultant Jennifer Bonnett, MPA, CLCC, CEO & President of the Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute.
Embracing Disruption 3, Meet the Next Cohort!
The Gifford Foundation has selected five organizations to be part of its 2024 cohort of Embracing Disruption 3. Learn about each of the non-profits selected and how they will come together this fall to embark on a 15-month journey to building stronger, more resilient organizational structures.
If you are considering whether or not Embracing Disruption would be a good fit for your organization, we encourage you to contact any of our past participants in order to hear their take on what the program experience was really like.
View the Full Program Timeline
Embracing Disruption 4 Timeline
Participation in Embracing Disruption is time-intensive, so please review the schedule below. This is a tentative schedule but is provided to ensure an understanding of the expectations of participating organizations.
Phase One: Organization Selection (April – August 2026)
- Application open: April 6, 2026
- Reach out to Lindsay McClung for application questions and Nonprofit Lifecycles overview: April 6 – June 5, 2026
- Application Deadline: June 5, 2026
- Gifford staff will schedule zoom meetings with organizations Leadership Teams: June 8-26, 2026
- Gifford will select five organizations to participate in Embracing Disruption: week of July 20, 2026
- Gifford staff and lead consultant will select organization and consultant matches: week of August 3, 2026
Phase Two: Self-Assessment/Work Plan Process (Sept – December 2026)
- First Leadership Team Orientation: September 23, 2026
- Organizational Selfie Due: December 12, 2026
- Organizational Capacity Improvement Plan Due: December 12, 2026
- Second Leadership Team Cohort Meeting-Consultants & Organizations: December 9, 2026
Phase Three: Capacity Improvement Period (January – December 2027)
- Capacity Improvement Implementation begins: January 2027
- Third Leadership Team Cohort Meeting: March 10, 2027
- Capacity Investments up to $15,000: March 31, 2027
- Fourth Leadership Team Cohort Meeting: June 9, 2027
- Fifth Leadership Team Cohort Meeting: September 15, 2027
- Sixth Leadership Team Cohort Meeting/Celebration: December 8, 2027
- Final written Reflections due: by end of December 2027
About the Program
Gifford will select five organizations to participate in this round of Embracing Disruption.
We encourage any organization that is interested in applying and curious to learn more to contact our Associate Director Lindsay McClung for further guidance about program structure and eligibility. Set up a Zoom meeting using her Calendly or send her an email at lindsay@giffordfoundation.org.
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