This is a time when trust is our most valuable currency, as voters, as community members, and as philanthropists.

Trust is not the same as blind faith — trust must be earned. But when trust is based on facts, generosity of spirit, and respect for one another, it has remarkable power to propel us forward as a community.

Today, we collectively must put our trust in a democratic system that — even in the face of incredible challenges — allowed citizens to make their choices freely and all residents to speak out.

When we seem intractably polarized, we can only cohere as a nation if we listen to each other in a spirit of trust, when we have faith that our neighbors are acting based on their own consciences, shaped by their lived experiences — just as we do.

In the world of philanthropy, trust belongs at the center, as well. The legitimacy and effectiveness of donors’ actions are increasingly measured by the degree of trust they place in their grantees and the communities they aim to serve. The positive impacts of trust-based philanthropy validate the power of this approach every day. Similarly, our most effective nonprofit leaders have earned the confidence of their communities, which enables them to be part of a virtuous circle of trust.

Trust is fundamental to all healthy relationships with people and within systems. Right now, we’re suffering deep civic wounds that reflect a fundamental breakdown of trust. Unlike physical wounds, civic wounds are healed not with rest but with action. And when we take action, we generate hope, we create opportunities, we build trust, we forge relationships, and strong relationships then form strong communities.

Read the full article about trust in philanthropy from Magnify Community at Medium.