Building Caring Communities
Creating places where trust, connection, and purpose come together to build stronger, more caring communities.
The Chapman Foundation’s Caring Communities initiative is designed to help establish sustainable, human-centered cultures.
Together with key community organizations, we co-invest to strengthen leadership capacity, emotional intelligence, and collaboration. By intentionally developing skills such as listening, accountability, and the ability to navigate challenging conversations, Caring Communities create environments where people feel respected and supported, where workplaces are healthier, and where cross-sector collaboration is encouraged.
The Journey
The Caring Community Journey is a multi-year partnership that helps communities build caring leadership, shared responsibility, and lasting impact. Through a structured progression, communities move from exploration and readiness into design and integration, and ultimately toward long-term sustainment.
Call for Applications
The Caring Community application is a key step for communities ready to begin or deepen their commitment to this work. Required to host a pilot class, the application helps confirm readiness, align community partners, and establish a strong foundation for long-term success.
Connect With Us
Building a Caring Community starts with connection. We would love to learn more about your community, your goals, and what matters most to you. Together, we can explore what Chapman Foundation path is the best for you, your organization and your community.
Want to explore what this could look like in your community?
“I would tell any leader of any organization that’s working to benefit their community, nonprofits or otherwise, that oftentimes, we get so focused on working out in the community that we forget to pay attention to the essentials of building a culture that is self-sustaining, that is nurturing of people’s gifts, skills, and abilities. Sometimes, we’re so busy working outside the organization that we fail to listen to one another, build the skill sets to have effective communication with one another, and share with one another clearly. We have found the Chapman Foundation classes to be really essential in building that kind of culture among our team, which makes us that much more effective in the work that we do out in the community as well.”
– Bill Stanfield
CEO of Metanoia
“Chapman Foundation classes have made a difference for Habitat for Humanity of Kent County by positioning folks to understand better how to communicate, how to listen, to be empathetic, and to build a caring community.”
– Bev Thiel
Executive Director (Habitat for Humanity, Kent County)
“One of my favorite parts of working here (Town of Snowmass Village) is the diversity of people—from police officers to snowplow drivers, waste removal professionals, and financial professionals. This programming has given us a common language to communicate across those differences.
At work, it’s improved team dynamics and made meetings more effective and respectful. People understand each other better, and when communication breaks down, we now have tools to fix it. In the community, it’s made us more empathetic and better at receiving feedback. The issues we face as a government are complex; this training gives us a foundation for civil, high-quality communication, regardless of background, beliefs, or politics.
This isn’t a one-off or feel-good program; it actually works. Whether in personal relationships, across teams, or out in the community, it gives people the tools to communicate better.”
– Clint Kinney
City Manager (Town of Snowmass Village)
