Civil Society Faces Decline Amid Rising Polarization and Low Trust

In a report issued this week, the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity describes a pronounced weakening of civil society in the United States, attributing it to growing partisan divides and diminishing public trust. Survey data from Independent Sector show that just 56% of respondents have strong confidence in nonprofit organizations and only 29% in philanthropy, a decline since 2021. The study cites factors such as technological change, economic instability, and government encroachment on areas once served by NGOs.

It also notes a drop in civic participation, with fewer than one-quarter of Americans volunteering, the lowest rate in more than two decades. While suggesting modest policy measures like tax incentives for charitable giving and better municipal spaces for community interaction, the report stresses that revitalizing civil society will require individuals to engage across ideological lines.