International Funding to Palestinian NGOs and Its Impact on Social Capital in the West Bank

The researcher in this study tested the null hypothesis which is as follows: International funding of projects to Palestinian non-government organizations (NGOs) and social causes has strengthened the development of social capital in the West Bank. The study groups are paid and non-paid volunteers, and leaders of NGOs which were selected randomly. The researcher used two methods of data collection. First, a survey of 320 self-administered questionnaires was distributed to paid and non-paid volunteers, and 276 were completed and returned. The second instrument used was a focus group session attended by 21 leaders of NGOs in Palestine. The researcher found that both age and level of education for the participants are statistically significant with respect to volunteering in Palestine. People above thirty years of age are more likely to volunteer than those less than thirty. Also, people with higher levels of education, above high school, are more likely to volunteer.