Trust in relationships as a key factor for strengthening civil society: from discourse to practice

• In Event: Trust in philanthropy and fundraising

Abstract

In recent years, the discussion of trust in the field of social change has emerged with greater force, particularly in relations between two central agents: on the one hand, the group made up of representatives of companies, institutes, foundations and high-income families (funders, institutional donors, philanthropists and social investors); on the other, leaders of civil society organizations, movements, collectives and other organizational forms focused on vulnerable audiences, themes and/or territories.
However, in the theoretical field, research on this subject is still rare and is restricted to think-tanks or institutions that produce applied knowledge that is not necessarily academic. We start from the assumption that the topic has not reached academia due to various factors: for example, because it is still a frontier debate, discussed in few circles of practitioners, with a high degree of subjectivity and which requires research outside the mainstream, including in methodological terms. On the other hand, the scientific basis of this issue will certainly help the topic gain legitimacy in the field itself, through the production of qualified knowledge, from a broader and more in-depth perspective.
There are no good relationships without trust - which is not binary [yes or no], but rather is sewn, developed and strengthened through the conscious efforts of all the parties involved. In this sense, we at the Labô collective - a laboratory of non-hegemonic practices in the arena of social change - have set out to bring the issue of relational work based on trust to the agenda with a view to strengthening civil society - with the consequences, at the tactical level, of improving practices in the field, and, at the strategic level, of strengthening democracy and reducing inequalities.
This session will be based on the practical experiences of our members with the characteristics, criteria, models and frameworks of work based on trust, as well as on practical and real cases that give concreteness to the theme. We are starting from a study carried out in 2022 in partnership with the German think-tank Maecenata (with professor Rupert Graf Strachwitz) and from a qualitative exploratory study currently underway which is investigating cases of both funders and trust-based CSOs through semi-structured interviews. We will use body exercises, a picture or movie projection, presentation of our current studies and finally a World Café on trust and its main challenges.
We intend to advance these discussions with the Academy, bringing a typically Brazilian perspective - but with the desire for them to be extended to all over - through the presentation of programs, projects and institutional partnerships that seek to weave more trusting relationships in a field where the opposite is (still) the rule. Analyzing successes, mistakes, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned, as well as jointly discussing and proposing ways in which the theme can gain greater adherence to the lines of research of the people taking part in the conference.

References

References
Alter, R.; Strachwitz, R.; Unger, T. Confiança na filantropia: uma ferramenta de acompanhamento e autoavaliação. Philanthropy.Insight Project, Maecenata Foundation. Berlim: 2021. Disponível em: https://www.maecenata.eu/2022/05/02/trust-in-philanthropy-a-monitoring-and-self-assessment-tool-now-in-brazilian-portuguese/
Aoqui, C.; Lins, T.V.; Prata, V. A Emergência de Relações que Possibilitam Mudanças Sistêmicas. Stanford Social Innovation Review Brasil. 2023. No prelo.
Mendonça, P.M.E; Cardoso, L.; Aoqui, C. Philanthropy During COVID-19 Emergency: Towards a Postcolonial Perspective? In: Civil Society Responses to Changing Civic Spaces. Biekart, K.; Kontinen, T; Millstein, M. (org.). Cham: Palgrave-MacMillan, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-23305-0
Milligan, K.; Zerda, J.; Kania, J. The Relational Work of Systems Change. Stanford Social Innovation Review. 2022. Disponível em https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_relational_work_of_systems_change.
Strachwitz, R.; Alter, R.; Unger, T. Addressing wicked problems. Collaboration, trust and the role of shared principles at the philanthropy and government interface. Trusts & Trustees, Vol. 00, No. 0, 2021, pp. 1–10. doi:10.1093/tandt/ttab066

Authors

• CASSIO AOQUI, Coletivo Labô

• Erica Sacchi Zanotti, Consulado da Mulher | Labo

• Tiana Vilar, ponteAponte