How do you measure the strength of the connections in a community—the trust, relationships, and bonds that hold people together.

Social capital plays a powerful role in impacting everything from economic mobility to civic participation. But how do we actually quantify these unseen networks?

The Social Capital Atlas can answer that question, mapping out data across U.S. counties and zip codes to show where social capital is strong and where it is lacking.

Using sources like Facebook connections, census data, and voting records, the Atlas paints a picture of how connected communities really are.

It explores three distinct forms of social capital: economic connectedness, or how people from different income backgrounds interact; cohesiveness, reflecting trust and the strength of local relationships; and civic engagement, which looks at volunteerism and community participation.

In this episode, Drew walks you through how to use this tool effectively.

You’ll hear:

(03:19) What social capital actually refers to, including bonding vs. bridging social capital

(07:29) Why should nonprofits care about social capital

(09:33) What is the Social Capital Atlas and what exactly does it measure

(12:08) How to navigate the Social Capital Atlas

Download the Data & Evaluation Made Simple Toolkit

Young people are facing an epidemic of loneliness. Despite being the most connected generation, students still feel isolated, disconnected, and uncertain.

This lack of connection impacts many areas of their lives—from school attendance and graduation rates to risky behaviors that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

For 35 years, Right Moves for Youth has been tackling this issue head-on.

Through weekly group meetings led by staff, school resource officers, and sometimes community volunteers, Right Moves provides teens with the opportunity to connect, build relationships, and gain the support they need to overcome life’s challenges.

Ryan Grammatico, from Right Moves for Youth, joins us to talk about how the organization is helping students not only achieve academic success but also become better employees, better citizens, and more prepared for the future ahead.

You’ll Hear:

(05:28) The challenges that youth in schools in Charlotte are facing right now

(08:03) What young people are sharing about their experiences with rising mental health challenges and feelings of disconnection

(14:06) What makes Right Moves for Youth so different from other after-school programs or youth mentoring programs

(22:26) How they demonstrate the impact of their work through measurable results

(33:23) A success story of a young girl who, after participating in the program, now works at the organization

Connect with Ryan and learn more about Right Moves for Youth.

Download the Data & Evaluation Made Simple Toolkit.

Read the full show notes HERE.

As Election Day approaches, the importance of voting is at the forefront of many conversations.

However, a healthy democracy relies not just on ballots cast, but on active, connected, and informed communities—what we refer to as civic health.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at the concept of civic health and how data—from voting rates to social trust—can reveal a lot about the strengths and challenges our communities face.

We’ll also discuss how nonprofits can help promote civic health without stepping into partisan territory.

You’ll hear:

(0:59) What civic health is and the challenges it faces

(03:57) National trends in civic engagement

(09:07) State-level insights from Georgia and North Carolina

(12:51) Five ways nonprofits can strengthen civic health