Community and Economic Development Bulletin #11
Breaking Down Social Capital: What Is It and What Does It Mean for Community Development Organizations?
Community development organizations often face pressing challenges: securing funding, fostering collaboration, engaging residents, and ensuring economic growth. While technical expertise and financial resources are essential, there is another powerful, yet often intangible, resource that can determine success: social capital.
This bulletin explores the critical role of social capital in community development. It examines bonding, bridging, and linking capital and considers how these impact individuals, organizations, and communities. It also addresses how social capital can be navigated, measured, and leveraged to drive meaningful change. A practical case study is included to demonstrate social capital’s real-world impact, along with a helpful tool for practitioners to brainstorm, visualize, and strengthen their own organizational social capital.
