Canopy Gap works with organizations that embrace the “mess.” We talk about the “mess” as being the unpredictable, uncontrollable nature of work and life. It’s neither good nor bad. It’s complex.

Our client partners understand there are no quick fixes or easy solutions to how we work together effectively. Since people are not machines, it requires creativity, experimentation, and adaptation. Together, we find ways to build and sustain more resilient and vital teams, organizations, and networks.

Since 2009, we have partnered with over 40 organizations within healthcare, technology, retail, public media, higher education, membership organizations, nonprofits, and government.

Our work falls into three categories: organization design, ecosystem design, and coaching.

Within organization design, we are committed to finding ways of working and relating within a specific team or organization. This often involves addressing patterns and processes, such as how you learn, communicate, plan, lead, or collaborate together. It can get as nitty gritty as how and when meetings are convened to as broad as discerning the collective vision.

For ecosystem design, this same approach is extended beyond an organization’s walls–the patterns and processes with partners, vendors, customers, or communities–so that multiple parties can collaborate effectively on something larger than one organization can accomplish. When you count the number of partner organizations we have worked with in ecosystem design, Canopy Gap has interacted with over 200 organizations since 2018.

Our coaching approach is based upon the “dynamics of life.” Rather than just focusing on problems, issues, or goals with individuals or teams, we are seeking paths forward where there is vitality and resonance. Team coaching and individual coaching are often woven into design projects as well.

Across all three categories, the entire Canopy Gap network is committed to tracking and tending the relational dynamics, not just the plans and practices. We are facilitators with a life-positive approach, but that does not mean we ignore problems or barriers. We address what comes up. But we are more oriented towards possibilities than problems.

We believe that the primary challenge of the coming decade may be how we reframe and share power.

This influences everything we do, and why we are rely on the principle of participation, especially from the faces and voices that are overlooked, undervalued, or not in the room. We stand firmly in our commitment to JEDHI (justice, equity, diversity, healing, and inclusion) values.