The Windrider Institut was awarded a $50,000 planning grant towards a Bridge Building Initiative. The goal is to bring 1-2 individuals from key partner organizations (Hillel, IV, CRU, Focus) to collaboratively envision what could be achieved by utilizing film to spark connecting conversations, identify shared goals, and begin building a detailed and actionable plan. The grantee also intends to contract with a research and evaluation firm to ensure a data-informed approach and to design clear metrics for impact and accountability. The outcomes of this planning process will directly inform a robust, airtight grant proposal, with the goal of submission for approval in June and program roll-out in September 2026.
The preliminary Theory of Change is as follows:Â
To foster bridge building among the next generation, the project will leverage the power of curated short films and guided conversations to create intentional spaces for compassionate engagement, relational dialogue, and mutual understanding across lines of difference. By facilitating these meaningful encounters through trusted organizations on college campuses, the project aims to measure how film can expand students’ perspectives, and ultimately inspire ongoing interfaith collaboration rooted in civic pluralism.