Social Connection
as a Cause
Coalition Members
A coalition of 15+ backbone leaders across philanthropy and volunteering working to name, define, and mobilize investment in social connection as a response to the greatest threat to our shared humanity.
The Next Major Cause
Roughly every 50 years, a cause emerges that is not incremental, but existential—reshaping how philanthropy and society respond. In the late 20th century, that cause was the environment: stewardship of the natural systems we share.
Today, we face a similar inflection point. But the threat is not to the planet—it is to our humanity.
More than half of Americans are at risk when it comes to social connection, with declining trust and rising isolation undermining health, economic mobility, and civic life. What is eroding is the social fabric that allows communities and institutions to function. What defines our humanity.
Like environmental degradation before it, this is a systemic challenge requiring a coordinated response at scale.
The question is whether philanthropy will lead—and build connection as the next great cause.
Download the Social Connection as a Cause Guide
The coalition developed the Social Connection Architecture for philanthropists to serve as a shared foundation for defining and advancing social connection as a cause—enabling leaders to align how they think, invest, and act so efforts across sectors reinforce one another and build a coherent field.
The document includes:
Clear definition of social connection as a funding category
Moral foundation and stakes framing (why it matters)
Shared definition and narrative for alignment
Priority investment areas and action map
Strategic provocations to guide decisions and spark ideas
Evidence base with key data and research