A Funder’s Guide to Building Social Cohesion

A Funder’s Guide to Building Social Cohesion includes research and recommendations for successful social cohesion grantmaking across three key stages. Beginning with the Five Pathways to Build Social Cohesion, funders are encouraged to identify which pathway best reflects organizational values and and goals before diving deeper with research and examples for each potential strategy. Funders who are supporting media and journalism are encouraged to jump to Page 20: the Narrative Change pathway for sections on Journalism and News Media and Entertainment and Creative Media.

The second stage, Amplifying Social Cohesion, is also of particular relevance for funders of media. This section offers an introduction on working with movement leaders and networks and how to build a body of evidence to support your grantmaking.

For the last stage, the guide offers five next steps for funders to action what they have learned so far. These recommendations also refer to differing values and goals that funders may have, and include some examples for potential partners.

Use This Guide to:

1. Better understand the many approaches to social cohesion and bridge-building grantmaking
2. Begin to think about how your media grants align toward larger goals of democracy and civic engagement.
3. Evaluate how your existing theories of change and/or value statements align with recommended strategies for this kind of grantmaking.

Suggested Content:

• How We Know Journalism is Good For Democracy
• The Power of Narrative: Understanding the Playbook Shaping Public Opinion, Media Impact Forum 2025
• A Strategic Framework to Guide Investments in Narrative Change

Featured Members: 

• Solutions Journalism Network

Source: PACE