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Social Connection
as a Cause

Join the Movement

Coalition Members

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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.

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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

Leaders from Allen Family Philanthropies and the Workday Foundation, Lara Littlefield and Carrie Varoquiers, share how funders are beginning to recognize and support social connection across different areas of impact—from direct investment in connection to arts and culture initiatives that strengthen belonging and community life.

In this conversation, you'll hear practical examples, emerging approaches, and how nonprofits, foundations, and companies can apply a shared framework for advancing connection through their strategies, investments, and communications.

Building the Market for Funding Connection

Missed the live conversation? Access the recording through this link.

Watch the recording and explore what it looks like to fund connection as a driver of lasting impact.

Help shape what’s next!

As Connection as a Cause continues to grow, we'd love to learn more about you, your work, and what would be most valuable to you moving forward.

Take our 3-minute survey

Your feedback will help us better understand who's engaging with this work, where you're on your journey, and how the Chamber can best support the growing community working to advance social connection.

How funders are beginning to recognize and support social connection.

  • Connection is the root cause.

    Connection cuts across existing portfolios rather than competing with them. It sits at the root of outcomes already being funded, and underlies the relationships that make other work possible.

  • Instinct first, then the framework.

    The case for connection tends to start with experience, not data. A shared framework, such as the Six Points of Connection, gives language to a belief already held, and makes it actionable.

  • AI is changing how the case for connection lands.

    As reliance on AI companionship grows, often gradually, the case for human connection becomes less abstract and more immediate.

  • Funding arts and culture means funding social connection.

    Arts and culture is one of the ways community gets built, not separate from it. Declining attendance is often a symptom; the root cause is weaker social connection. Funding arts and culture is, in practice, funding reasons for people to come back together.

  • No funder – or funder type – can do this alone.

    The challenge exceeds any one funder's capacity. That collaboration extends to individual philanthropists too, not just large institutions.

  • For corporate funders, connection isn't an add-on. It's the dependency.

    Connection won't become a sustained funding priority until it's seen as worthy of investment, research, and measurement. Funders can support connection programs directly, and support the organizations shifting how the field understands connection itself. Building the narrative builds the market.