Building Trust, One Community at a Time

Trust begins close to home in the relationships, shared experiences, and local connections that help communities thrive. Last week, Allstate and the Aspen Institute’s Alliance for Social Trust announced the recipients of the 2026 Trust in Practice Awards, investing $5.25 million in nonprofit collaborations working to strengthen trust across the United States.

The response to the initiative revealed something larger than a single awards program: a growing national appetite for rebuilding connection and civic trust. More than 3,000 organizations participated in the application process, submitting over 1,600 proposals focused on helping communities bridge divides, foster belonging, and solve shared challenges together.

The 11 awardees, representing collaborations across 10 states, reflect the many ways trust can take root in community life. Their work ranges from flood recovery and economic resilience planning in rural Appalachia to healing-centered play spaces in Uvalde, Texas, to intergenerational peacebuilding efforts in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Awardees will receive grants of $1 million, $500,000, or $100,000 and join a national learning network designed to help organizations share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and scale what works.

Additionally, Allstate and the Aspen Institute have earmarked $500,000 for an acceleration and learning fund that drives awardee connection and collaboration. An additional $250,000 will be distributed to 25 finalist organizations to further their trust-building efforts.

“Demand for support far exceeded expectations, showing Americans know trust is required to improve prosperity and protect freedom,” said Tom Wilson, who leads Allstate.

Dan Porterfield, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, emphasized the importance of local leadership in addressing broader national challenges. “The Aspen Institute and Allstate share the belief that trust is necessary for a thriving society,” he said. “The Trust in Practice Awards are an important step toward building a network of trust builders committed to weaving together the social fabric of America.”

Research underpinning the initiative underscores why this work matters. Americans report significantly higher levels of trust in neighbors and local communities than in national institutions, suggesting that trust grows through participation, proximity, and shared purpose.

The Trust in Practice Awards reflect a simple but powerful idea: strengthening trust is not abstract work. It happens in neighborhoods, schools, public spaces, and conversations — wherever people come together to build a more connected future.

Meet the 2026 Trust in Practice Awardees 

Each of the following awardees represents a collaboration of at least three nonprofit organizations that

advance new solutions to increase trust in their communities. The projects range from on-the-ground

disaster recovery to intergenerational coalition building to the revitalization of public spaces.

$1 million

• West Virginia Community Development Hub: To work with local residents from all walks of life to guide flood recovery and economic resilience planning across 18 rural Central Appalachian communities.
• KABOOM!: To create healing-focused play spaces in Uvalde, Texas, with the goal of seeding joy and fostering connection and trust.

$500,000

• Common Ground USA: To convene New Orleans local leaders from across the city to develop neighborhood-level solutions that strengthen cross-community trust, cohesion and neighborhood safety.
• Loyola University Maryland: To train intergenerational community leaders in Baltimore to revitalize shared spaces and bridge divides.
• Homeboy Industries: To support intergenerational healing between formerly incarcerated individuals and their families across Los Angeles County.
• Red Wing Arts: To rebuild trust between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Minnesota through shared cultural experiences.

$100,000

• New Neighbors Partnership: To host potluck-style community dinners in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens in New York City to help residents from different backgrounds connect and bridge divides.
• Miles Heights Development Corporation: To convene Cleveland residents to co-design and implement neighborhood improvements that rebuild community trust.
• The CARE Center of New Jersey: To transform a one-acre site into a year-round community garden and hub in Rockaway Township to unite residents.
• Be Loud Studios: To produce youth-led, intergenerational programming in New Orleans, including interviews, town halls and local dinners to bridge divides and build trust.
• Legal Prep Charter Academies: To train Chicago middle and high school students to be community peacebuilders.

Learn more about the Trust in Practice Awardees here.