As a philanthropic network helping foundations maximize their impact on democracy, PACE regularly hears from funders seeking to make sense of the expansive ecosystem of initiatives aimed at supporting democratic health, bridging differences, and promoting pluralism.
As they assess this landscape and where they can most effectively contribute, many funders are looking beyond their immediate fields and geographies for insights. For instance, democracy funders who are concerned about polarization domestically are keen to learn from peers working on conflict resolution in international contexts. At the same time, some peace and security funders with experience overseas are exploring how their approaches might apply domestically.
In response, PACE partnered with the Peace and Security Funders Group and the Council of Foundations to develop the Social Cohesion Primer–a resource that maps the ecosystem of cohesion-advancing efforts and helps funders understand their place in it.
The “coordinates” in the ecosystem include efforts like:
–Combating disinformation
–Countering extremism and hate
–Fostering belonging
–Supporting conflict resolution
–Advancing interfaith cooperation
*It’s important to note that this is one way to think about and orient these interventions and the field as a whole. It is not the only way. We offer this resource as an invitation to start a conversation and learn about the breadth of options to contribute to social cohesion.
We see a clear opportunity and need to raise awareness about these dynamics and support philanthropy to do its part in furthering social cohesion in America. If you’re interested in helping shape a philanthropic culture that intentionally builds social cohesion and counters toxic polarization, we’d welcome a conversation.
If you come to the Social Cohesion Primer from a peace or security perspective, you may be interested in speaking directly to the Peace and Security Funders Group. Their team offers deep expertise and practical resources to orient you to the social cohesion field lens and find peers who are engaging on this topic.
