WHAT WE DO
We are advancing social connection nation-wide rooted in evidence for our collective well-being.
Implementing evidence-based strategies and policies are essential to achieving a socially connected society. The SOCIAL Framework is the basis of our theory of change – that stakeholders from all sectors of society can play a role to effectively improve social connection for all.
In a vibrant society where social connection is at the heart of how we live:
• Children are taught social and emotional skills in schools;
• Individuals are employed by workplaces that support the connectedness of their employees;
• Daily systems that are integral to our lives such as food and transportation, and the environments and neighborhoods in which we live, are intentionally designed to foster social connection.
This is a result of society and policies prioritizing social connection as a national value essential to broad scale well-being.
Clinical and population health provide touch points to identify individuals who are socially disconnected and provide them with the resources and support they need.
American adults spend on average a third of their lives at work. Since we spend so much time at work, there are key opportunities for social connection.
Our experiences in early educational settings influence the development of our social skills and feelings of belonging. These experiences shape our abilities to form meaningful social connections throughout our entire lives.
Research highlights the critical role of well-designed, intentional, and inclusive spaces in addressing social isolation, loneliness, and connection. By prioritizing human-centric design, such spaces become catalysts for community engagement and social integration.
Report Coming Soon.
Report Coming Soon.
We must work together to bridge gaps in the field and accelerate progress. Our vast network and convenings foster cross-sector partnerships to create systemic change and contribute to the greater good of advancing social connection work.
Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness
As the affiliate 501(c)4 organization to the Foundation, the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness (CESIL) develops and advocates for federal policy solutions to address the epidemic of social isolation and loneliness. Our Scientific Leadership Council also contributes to the Coalition’s advocacy goals by providing scientific recommendations on key initiatives and policy priorities.
Healthy Places by Design
Through our strategic partnership with Healthy Places by Design, the Foundation is bridging our community and national efforts to catalyze movements across the country. Together, we equip local leaders with the resources to build more socially connected communities and challenge systems to prioritize health and well-being for all.
Global Initiative on Loneliness & Connection
The Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC) was formed in the Summer of 2020 amid the global COVID-19 crisis. It is comprised of 14 national organizations committed to ending the pressing global issues of loneliness and social isolation. Together, we support the dissemination of system-wide, national approaches to build social connection.
Office of the Surgeon General
In 2023, the Surgeon General officially declared loneliness a public health epidemic, citing 58% of Americans experience loneliness. The Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection calls attention to the critical role connection plays in individual, community, and societal health and offers a framework for how we can all contribute to improving social connection. We are proud that Scientific Leadership Council (SLC) Chair, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, served as Lead Scientific Editor of the Advisory. Additionally, our SLC members and staff contributed as Advisory reviewers.
Commit to Connect
We serve as advisors to Commit to Connect, a cross-sector initiative, sponsored by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). The aim of the collaboration is to connect older adults and individuals with disabilities living with isolation with programs and resources to build the social connections they need to thrive. Our Scientific Leadership Council provided a framework to assess programs and technological solutions. The Nationwide Network of Champions serves as local awareness, action, and advocacy champions across the nation.
We convene the best and brightest thought leaders and change-makers from across the globe for our action forum. In 2023, we held our hybrid event, Building Connected Communities, with our partners Healthy Places by Design, Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program, and Einhorn Collaborative. Together, we raise the visibility of our nation’s crisis of connection, spotlight ground-breaking innovations, spur commitments to action, and promote real evidence- and system-based change for a more socially connected future.
We are igniting a national shift in the narrative around social isolation, loneliness, and social connection. We lift up stories of inspiring community efforts working to strengthen social connection. Nurturing and sustaining these vital bonds improves our physical, mental, social, economic, and civic health.