WASHINGTON — Eleven nonprofit collaborations across 10 states have been selected to receive significant financial support through a new national initiative designed to strengthen trust and civic connection in communities across the United States.
The awards, announced by Aspen Institute through its Aspen Digital program, are part of the newly launched Trust in Practice initiative, supported by Allstate. The effort seeks to fund organizations building meaningful relationships across differences while improving local resilience, participation, and community well-being.
According to the official release, more than 3,000 organizations participated in the nationwide process, with selected collaborations receiving grants ranging from $100,000 to $1 million.
“The Trust in Practice initiative recognizes organizations doing the difficult but essential work of building trust across communities,” the Aspen Institute stated in the announcement.
Winning collaborations represent a wide range of causes, including youth development, civic engagement, economic opportunity, education access, and neighborhood revitalization. Organizers said the initiative was created in response to increasing social fragmentation and declining institutional trust nationwide.
The initiative is administered through Aspen Digital’s Alliance for Social Trust, which focuses on strengthening democratic participation and social cohesion through cross-sector partnerships and community leadership.
Supporters of the initiative say trust-building has become one of the most important investments communities can make as organizations work to address isolation, polarization, and local inequities.
“Communities thrive when people feel connected, heard, and empowered to work together toward common goals,” said Bruce Petillo, founder of Heartitude. “These nonprofit collaborations remind us that trust is not built through words alone — it’s built through consistent action, shared purpose, and genuine care for one another.”
The selected organizations will use the funding to expand local programming, deepen partnerships, and create sustainable community-based solutions designed to strengthen civic participation and long-term collaboration.
The announcement reflects a growing national focus on investing in human-centered initiatives that prioritize connection, empathy, and collective problem-solving as essential components of community health and resilience.
Original Press Release: Aspen Digital Trust in Practice Awards Announcement