What if, instead of looking for others’ failures, we truly committed to loving our neighbors?
In an age marked by unprecedented digital connectivity and also profound social fragmentation, American society faces a defining challenge: How do we rebuild the social fabric so individuals and communities can truly flourish? I believe this requires intentionally cultivating collective belonging while honoring each person’s unique experience and dignity.
Americans are experiencing a profound crisis of loneliness and isolation. The U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness a new public health epidemic, noting that social participation and in-person engagement have sharply declined across all age groups, with young people ages 15 to 24 seeing a nearly 70% drop in time spent with friends over the past two decades. Nearly one in three older adults now reports feeling isolated, and the health consequences are severe: social isolation can increase the risk of premature death by more than 60%.
Isolation, whether systemic, familial, or personal, erodes resilience and diminishes agency. Yet, intentional efforts to foster connection can transform individual lives and the health of neighborhoods and society. Social connection is not a luxury but a necessity for physical, mental, and social health. The vitality of American civil society has long depended on voluntary organizations, spaces where people gather, build trust, and work toward shared goals. When these organizations realize their visions, society strengthens and empowers individuals to flourish.
Research and experience affirm that social capital is best understood as the resources embedded in social structures that people access and mobilize for purposeful action. This encompasses the strength of relationships, trust, shared values, and the willingness to cooperate for mutual benefit. Higher levels of social capital are associated with better outcomes in health, education, employment, and overall well-being.
Building social capital means creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and connected through local associations, digital platforms, or family networks. However, those who are marginalized often lack social capital the most, making it essential for organizations and communities to serve as conduits for connection and support. By providing spaces where the most vulnerable especially are listened to without judgment and supported without condition, we can help foster hope and resilience.
Honoring the most vulnerable by hearing each person’s decisions, values, and lived experience creates connection, even in the most sensitive of circumstances. Whether someone is navigating an unintended pregnancy, seeking to rebuild devastated family relationships, or processing a past trauma, the path to healing is deeply personal. Philanthropy must recognize that genuine connection is built on the respectful integration of diverse voices, and an openness to complexity and honoring each person’s unique experience.
Trust is the essential currency of civil society, but it cannot be mandated; it must be cultivated. Rebuilding trust across socioeconomic, ideological, and generational divides requires intentionality. It means seeing others as neighbors, not strangers, and fostering relationships that transcend differences.
As nonprofit organizations seek to scale their impact, there is a temptation to prioritize efficiency over relationships. Yet, the most enduring change happens when we bridge ideological gaps and empower communities to lead in supporting others in organic, relational ways. Philanthropy’s role is not just to fund programs, but to build networks of trust and support that adapt to the unique needs of each community and remain rooted in human connection.
Ultimately, fostering collective belonging while honoring individual experience is not just a strategy but a principle at the heart of philanthropy’s purpose. When we succeed, we do more than address immediate needs; we create a prototype of the society we wish to build, one where every neighborhood offers pathways to healthy, empowered lives rooted in connection, care, and belonging.
Imagine a world where love compels us to join our neighbors in the profoundly difficult places they find themselves. What if, instead of looking for others’ failures, we asked more of ourselves to love our neighbors? What if our response to suffering was not to look away, but to step closer, offering presence and care? This vision can transform lives, especially in places of greatest sensitivity and need. As advocates for progress in this crucial work, we remind each other of our common humanity and commit to building a society where people are seen, supported, and belong.