More than grants, donations, or volunteer hours, public trust and community engagement are the currency of the nonprofit sector. The public’s belief that nonprofits will “do the right thing” is what makes it possible for us to partner with communities, advocate for our missions, and bridge political divides to build a healthy and just nation.

That’s why Independent Sector has been measuring public trust in nonprofits and philanthropy for the last five years. We want to understand not just the status of trust in the sector, but also how we can strengthen that trust.

Data from our most recent report with Edelman Data and Intelligence highlights what many nonprofit and philanthropic leaders already know to be true: Trust is built from strong relationships, and it thrives on proximity—that is, how closely and directly we’re involved with an issue and work with the people who are affected by it. The more we connect with our communities, the more we can support them.

Public Trust and Community Engagement Is High, But Could Be Higher

In the last year, public trust and community engagement with nonprofits increased by 5 percentage points to 57%. Trust in philanthropy remained steady at 33%. In a divisive election year, when respondents reported lower levels of trust in almost every other sector—from small businesses to the news media—these numbers are significant. They tell us the public continues to believe nonprofits will do the right thing, even as they feel increasingly let down by other types of organizations.

The data shows Americans are overwhelmingly concerned about the future of the country. In particular, 94% of respondents said they were worried about growing social and political divides, and 58% said the rising cost of living was a top concern. On both of these key issues, they had more confidence in nonprofits than in big business, the federal government, or the media to make a positive difference, indicating public trust and community engagement with nonprofits.

The foundation for this confidence comes down to relationships. Trust is relational—so is the work of nonprofits.

Across the country, nonprofits engage with their communities in ways that for-profit entities and other institutions do not. They work with people to achieve shared goals—and, in fact, they rely on participation from their communities just as much as those communities rely on their services.

Read the full article about public trust in nonprofits by Akilah Watkins at Candid.