Community Social Capital Model

Extension’s Community Social Capital Model shows the whole social capital picture.

The term social capital was coined by social scientist James Coleman to describe community ties, and Robert Putnam further popularized this research in his book, Bowling Alone.

Healthy social capital makes it easier for people to work together and solve problems. Extension wants to help community leaders and groups understand how and why social capital makes a difference, so that they can be more intentional in developing bonds, links and bridges that work well together in their communities.

The University of Minnesota Extension social capital model was designed to describe how social capital works — from the close bonds individuals need to feel like they belong, to connections to organizations and systems that help them leverage resources, to broader connections that expand opportunities. 

Get to know this model below.

• The core is efficacy — a belief that one can make a difference in a variety of social contexts.
• The inner ring considers trust within each of the three types of networks:
  • Bonding — residents with a common social background trust each other
  • Bridging — residents with different social backgrounds trust each other
  • Linking — residents trust organizations and systems
• The outer ring considers types of engagement, also within each of the three types of networks:
  • Bonding — residents with a common social background engage with each other
  • Bridging — residents with different social backgrounds engage with each other
  • Linking — residents engage with organizations and systems

When conditions in each of these seven aspects of social capital are strong, a community is more able to channel its human energy to solve problems.

• Bonding — residents have close connections that give a sense of belonging and help them get by.
• Bridging — residents have broad connections that help them expand opportunities.
• Linking — residents have connections to organizations and systems that help them gain resources and bring about change.