Social network analysis (SNA) is a methodology for studying relationships and how individuals fit within networks. SNA can help funders achieve better impact through relationships by identifying opportunities, potential obstacles, and influential individuals. Examples show how foundations have used SNA to scale impact, understand grant outcomes, and inform future funding. SNA software like NodeXL and Gephi allow users to analyze and visualize their networks from professional sites like LinkedIn to understand network density, hierarchy, and connections. Resources are provided for continuing SNA learning.

1. Social Network
Analysis and
Partnerships
By: Sophia Guevara - EPIP Fellow
2015 COF Annual - San Francisco, CA

2. About this presentation
- An introduction to social network analysis
- Learn why social network analysis is
valuable and how it can help you achieve
better impact through relationships.
- Examples of foundations making use of it
- SNA for the beginner

3. What is Social Network Analysis?
- “A methodology for studying relational or relationship
data and is grounded in understanding and applying the
methodology within a context of networks. Social
network analysis provides the tools for exploring the fit
of individuals and subgroups within a network and for
measuring the structural characteristics of the network,
subgroups, and individuals”. - About SNA, American Evaluation Association Social
Network Analysis TIG site: http://comm.eval.org/snaTIG/tigresources/aboutsna1

4. Important Terms in SNA
- Centralisation
- Density
- Egocentric vs. sociocentric
- Learn more here: A Glossary of Terms for
Navigating the Field of Social Network
Analysis by Hawe, Shiell and Webster

5. Relationships
- Learning what we should know but don’t
- Myopic view of actions
- The spread of ideas, information and
innovation - the importance of intermediaries
- Betweenness
- Centrality and peripherality

6. Why should funders be interested?
- Scaling impact
- Identify opportunities and potential obstacles
- Understand who the go-to people may be
- Connect with a purpose
- Learn from failed grants

7. Foundation use of SNA - Examples
- Young Foundation and public service
delivery in Fairstead
- California Forward Funded by 5 foundations
including the California Endowment, The
James Irvine Foundation and the David and
Lucile Packard Foundation.

8. Social Network
Analysis Software
NodeXL and Gephi

9. Social Network Analysis - Node XL
What is it?
- Open-source
template for
Microsoft Excel
- Free

10. Social Network Analysis - Node XL

11. Social Network Analysis - Node XL

12. Social Network Analysis - Gephi
- Free
- Open-source
- Runs on Windows,
Linux and Mac OS X

13. Social Network Analysis - Gephi

14. Understanding Your
Own Network
For the beginner: Tools to analyze your personal network

15. LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com
- Similar to Facebook, it allows professionals
to connect with each other individually or in
groups. Free and fee option
- View extended network to learn about your
1st, 2nd and 3rd degree connections:
https://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/
a_id/110/ft/eng

16. Socilab - http://socilab.com/#home
- Open source software for visualization and
network analysis calculations
- Learn about network density, hierarchy
and constraint.
- Requires access to LinkedIn account.

17. Socilab and LinkedIn

18. Socilab - Network Statistics

19. Wolfram Alpha - Personal Analytics
- Personal Analytics tool for Facebook:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/facebook/
- Need to OK permissions for the tool
- Recently advising users that it will collect
anonymized information from reports
generated

20. TouchGraph - Facebook Analytics
- Personal analytics tool for Facebook
- Need to OK permissions for the tool
- Recently advising users that it will collect
anonymized information from reports
generated

21. TouchGraph - Facebook
permissions
- Will ask for permission to access public
profile and friend list. Will also ask
permission to post (not necessary)
- Check out if and how friends are connected,
what organizations your friends are
associated with and how many are at each
organization.

22. Removing TouchGraph Access

23. Continuing your
learning
Resources and reading list

24. Want to learn more?
- Check out U of MI SNA Coursera course
https://www.coursera.org/course/sna
- Social Network Analysis TIG at AEA:
http://comm.eval.org/snatig/home/
- SNA tutorial on concepts:
http://www.slideshare.net/gcheliotis/social-
network-analysis-3273045

25. Reading List
- Social Network Analysis - A Brief
Introduction by Valdis Krebs
- What is Social Network Analysis by John
Scott
- Applying Social Network Analysis to Online
Communications Networks by Natalie
Castaneda