Social Capital and Relational Philanthropy: creating positive systems change workshop
In a presentation to the Rank Foundation’s network with about 40 attendees, Dr Janis Petzinger discussed how building social capital and relational philanthropy create positive systems changes within the third sector. Exploring how trust and reciprocity make for healthier, more successful communities, she reflected on CSPPG research that shows how grantmakers like The Rank Foundation aim to build social capital through the reciprocal process of relational philanthropy with their own RankNet community. She also explored limitations of social capital, including definitional confusion, navigating inclusive/exclusive dynamics, social polarisation, and tokenism. The session ended with a reflective exercise for participating organisations to consider social capital within their own communities, the RankNet community, and the wider network of civil society organisations at large.