Social Capital, Volunteering, and Charitable Giving

This study analyzes the relationship between social capital variables, such as trust and civic participation, and philanthropic behaviors, including volunteering and charitable donations in the U.S. Using structural equation modeling on cross-sectional data, the authors demonstrate that civic involvement significantly influences giving, mediated by social trust and prevailing social norms. The findings suggest that strengthening local social networks can effectively boost philanthropic participation. The article provides implications for community foundations, emphasizing the importance of understanding community characteristics to foster sustained charitable support.