What is Giving Compass?
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Giving Compass' Take:
• A 2021 report at Independent Sector slides philanthropy under the microscope, investigating U.S. citizens' current state of trust in nonprofits.
• Why is it important to research and measure people's confidence in the private sector? What can we do to hold each other accountable on following through on issues like equity?
• Read about why rural communities indicate less trust in nonprofits.
For the second year in a row, Independent Sector has published original findings on trust in civil society from a research study conducted in partnership with Edelman Data & Intelligence. The 2021 Independent Sector Trust in Civil Society survey finds, overall, that trust across all institutions is declining, but a majority of Americans remain confident in the ability of the nonprofit and philanthropic sector to strengthen U.S. society.
Specifically, the survey reveals increased confidence (84% in 2021) in the ability of nonprofits to strengthen society, and that Americans support nonprofits in helping the most vulnerable, making change, and setting a good example for others. Confidence also increased in philanthropy (65% in 2021) among Americans. On the question of trusting nonprofits and philanthropy (corporations, private foundations, and high-net worth individuals) to do what is right, the net nonprofit trust level stayed relatively the same at 45 points in 2021, but trust in philanthropy dropped to 4 points in 2021.
“Understanding these findings is critical because public trust continues to be the currency of the nonprofit sector to support healthier and more equitable communities. We know increased engagement leads to more trust,” said Daniel J. Cardinali, president and CEO of Independent Sector. “We need to use this data about trust and confidence so we can emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than before and to address racial injustice, environmental sustainability, and economic challenges. All communities, including communities of color, need to thrive in the United States.”
For this second annual report, Edelman Data & Intelligence conducted two national surveys (one focusing on nonprofits with 5,000 Americans ages 18+ and one examining philanthropy with 3,000 Americans ages 18+) to assess the general population’s trust in the sector (nonprofits and philanthropy) and examine factors that drive trust.
Read the full report about the state of trust in nonprofits at Independent Sector.
The public’s belief that nonprofits will “do the right thing” is one of the central reasons the sector exists. Communities have relied upon nonprofits to provide trusted sources of information, life-sustaining services, environmental stewardship, and places of refuge for centuries. In today’s highly polarized environment, understanding and managing trust has never been more important for organizations to own their license to operate, lead, and succeed. Given the outsized importance of trust, it is imperative to assess the status of that trust and how the sector can strengthen our most valuable asset.