This study highlights the importance of social capital within third sector organizations, as in other sectors of the economy, and confirms the influence of social capital on human capital. In this case, it contributes to the analysis of the structure and quality of relationships among members of a social organization, which enables motivation and commitment to collective action. Based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, from a 45-item survey applied to 190 workers in social organizations; the constructs were reconfigured for the construction of the model of organizational social capital, was carried out using the structural equation methodology. It is argued that the cognitive and structural dimensions of social capital affect its relational dimension in terms of identification, trust and cooperation, which in turn influences worker motivation and other key aspects of human capital. The relational dimension, measured by workers’ identification, trust, and cooperation, has significant effects on their motivation and work engagement, which leads to important practical considerations for human resource policies in these organizations. The article contributes to the existing literature on human capital management by exploring the perception of workers in nonprofit organizations that are part of Ecuador’s third sector.

1. Adler, P. S. & Kwon, S.-W. (2002). Social capital: Prospects for a new concept. Academy of Management Review, 27(1), 17-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/4134367
2. Ali, B. J., & Anwar, G. (2021). An Empirical Study of Employees’ Motivation and its Influence on Job Satisfaction. International Journal of Engineering, Business and Management, 5(2), 21-30. https://doi.org/10.22161/ijebm.5.2.3.
3. Akingbola, K., & Van Den Berg, H. A. (2019). Antecedents, Consequences, and Context of Employee Engagement in Nonprofit Organizations. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 39(1), 46-74. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734371X16684910
4. Akingbola, K. (2012). A Model of Strategic Nonprofit Human Resource Management. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 24(1), 214-240. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11266-012-9286-9
5. Álvarez, F. (2015). Social capital, synergy, social impact and civil society organizations. Reality and Reflection. 41(1), 8-27. https://n9.cl/euop46
6. Andrews, R. (2010). Organizational social capital, structure, and performance. Human Relations, 63 (5), 583-608. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726709342931
7. Barney, J. (1991). Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
8. Bakiev, E., & Kapucu, N. (2012). The Role of Organizational Social Capital in Increasing Organizational Performance in Public Organizations: Evidence from Kyrgyz National Police (KNP). International Journal of Public Administration, 35(14), 976–988. https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2012.701152
9. Bebbington, A. (2005). Conceptual Approaches to Social Capital and Poverty Alleviation Programs. In Aprender de la Experiencia: El Capital Social En La Superación de La Pobreza, CEPAL, 19-58. https://n9.cl/kppny
10. Bolino, M.C., Turnley, W.H. & Bloodgood J.M. (2002). Citizenship behavior and the creation of social capital in organizations. Academy of Management Review 27 (4), pp. 505-522. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/4134400
11. Bourdieu, P. (1980). Capital Social: notas provisionales. Actas de Investigación en Ciencias Sociales 31, 2-3. https://n9.cl/qh4ct
12. Brandsen, T. & Johnston, K. (2018). Collaborative governance and the third sector: something old, something new. The Palgrave Handbook of Public Administration and Management in Europe (pp. 311-325). http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55269-3_16
13. Brown, WA, Andersson, FO and Jo, S. (2016). Dimensions of capacity in nonprofit human service organizations. Voluntas 27, 2889-2912. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-015-9633-8
14. Brunie, A. (2009). Meaningful distinctions within a concept: Relational, collective, and generalized social capital. Social Science Research 38: 251-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2009.01.005
15. Burt, RS (2000). The Network Structure of Social Capital. Research in Organizational Behavior. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0191-3085(00)22009-1
16. Coleman, J. (1990). Foundations of social theory (Vol. 3). Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard university press. https://n9.cl/hyrx1
17. Coleman, J. (2000). Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital. In Knowledge and Social Capital (pp. 17-41). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-7222-1.50005-2
18. Cruz, N. M., Pérez, V. M., & Cantero, C. T. (2009). Influence of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation on knowledge transmission. The case of a nonprofit organization. CIRIEC-Spain, Journal of Public, Social and Cooperative Economics, (66), 187-211. https://n9.cl/rszoj
19. Cueva, G. (2019). Civil society in Ecuador as an agent of development: contributions and current challenges. Estudios De La Gestión: International Journal Of Management, (4), 35-56. https://n9.cl/cy1kj
20. Chacón-Henao, J., López-Zapata, E. and Arias-Pérez, J. (2022). Shared leadership in management teams and organizational performance: the mediating role of social capital. Estudios Gerenciales, 38(162), 32-44. https://n9.cl/anqus
21. Chow, W. S., & Chan, L. S. (2008). Social network, social trust, and shared goals in organizational knowledge sharing. Information and Management, 45(7), 458-465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2008.06.007
22. Collins, BJ, Galvin, BM, & Meyer, RD (2019). Situational strength as a moderator of the relationship between organizational identification and work outcomes. Journal of Organizational and Leadership Studies, 26 (1), 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051818774550
23. Dávila De León, C., & García, G. J. (2014). Sense of belonging and organizational commitment: predictors of well-being. Revista de Psicología, 32(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.18800/psico.201402.004
24. Dawson, A. (2012). Private equity investment decisions in family firms: The role of human resources and agency costs. Journal of Business Venturing, 26(2), 189-199. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2009.05.004
25. Deci, MI. & Ryan, R. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Perspectives in Social Psychology (Springer Science & Business Media). http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2271-7
26. De Geus, CJC, Ingrams, A., Tummers, L. and Pandey, SK (2020). Organizational citizenship behavior in the public sector: a systematic review of literature and an agenda for future research. Public Administration Review, 80 (2), 259-270. https://n9.cl/hyc7sf
27. De León Calderón, A. P. (2018). Interactions between different types of social capital: a theoretical approach. Public Spaces, 21(52), 61-82. https://n9.cl/kn2vn
28. DiMaggio, P. and Powell, W. (1999). The new institutionalism in organizational analysis. México: fce, 104, 125. https://n9.cl/6u8sw
29. Felício, J. A., Couto, E., & Caiado, J. (2012). Human capital and social capital in entrepreneurs and managers of small and medium enterprises. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 13(3), 395-420. https://doi.org/10.3846/16111699.2011.620139
30. Fukuyama, F. (2001). Social capital, civil society and development, Third World Quarterly, 22:1, 7-20. https://n9.cl/bkz3t6
31. Gallego-Giraldo, C. and Naranjo-Herrera, CG. (2020). The human capital of the firm: a measurement proposal. In: Entramado. vol. 16, no. 2, p. 70-89. https://n9.cl/4jxaf
32. Gortaire-Morejón, B., Matute, A., Romero, V. and Tinajero, JP. (2022). The situation of the third sector in Ecuador: survival of NGOs in an adverse environment. Íconos. Revista de Ciencias Sociales, (72), 205-228. https://n9.cl/fx0w8
33. Grant, A. M., Dutton, J. E., & Rosso, B. D. (2008). Giving Commitment: Employee Support Program and the Prosocial Sensemaking Process. Academy of Management Journal, 51(5), 898-918. http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/amj.2008.34789652
34. Hair, Joseph F. Jr; Black, William C.; Babin, Barry J. and Anderson, Ralph E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis, 7th edition. Pearson Prentice Hall. https://n9.cl/zx7l7
35. Hawkins, R. L. & Maurer, K. (2012). Unraveling social capital: Disentangling a concept for social work. British Journal of Social Work, 42(2), 353-370. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcr056
36. Islam, T., Khatoon, A., Cheema, A. U., & Ashraf, Y. (2023). How does ethical leadership enhance employee work engagement? The roles of trust in leader and harmonious work passion. Kybernetes. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-09-2022-1343
37. Kroll, A., DeHart-Davis, L., & Vogel, D. (2019). Mechanisms of social capital in organizations: how team cognition influences employee engagement and commitment. American Journal of Public Administration, 49 (7), 777-791. https://n9.cl/yyv34
38. Leana, C.R. & Van Buren, H.J. III. (1999). Organizational Social Capital and Employment Practices. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3): 538-555. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/259141
39. Leana, CR and Pil, FK (2006). Social capital and organizational performance: evidence from urban public schools. Organizational Science, 17 (3), 353-366. https://n9.cl/xkbkz
40. Lesser, E.L. (2000). Leveraging Social Capital in Organizations. In Knowledge and Social Capital: Foundations and Applications, Butterworth Heinemann, (1): 3-16. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780080509792
41. Lockward Dargam, A. M. (2011). The role of trust in organizations across different management approaches or thoughts. Science and Society, 36(3), 464-502. https://doi.org/10.22206/cys.2011.v36i3.pp464-502
42. López-Santos, J., Castañeda-Martínez, T., and González-Díaz, J.G. (2017). New rurality and proximity dynamics in the territorial development of localized agri-food systems, Polis [Online], 47. http://journals.openedition.org/polis/12526
43. Luthans, F., & Youssef, C. M. (2004). Human, social, and now positive psychological capital management: Investing in people for competitive advantage. Organizational Dynamics, 33(2), 143-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2004.01.003
44. Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 397–422. https://n9.cl/lrbgb
45. Membiela-Pollán, M., Atilano Pena-López, J., & Sánchez-Amboage, E. (2019). The interrelationship between human capital and social capital. An approach to the Spanish case. Atlantic Review of Economics. https://hdl.handle.net/10419/213802
46. Meyer, J. P., Becker, T. E., & Vandenberghe, C. (2004). Employee commitment and motivation: A conceptual analysis and integrative model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89: 991-1007. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.89.6.991
47. Millán, R. and Gordon, S. (2004). Social capital: a reading of three classical perspectives. Revista Mexicana de Sociología, 66(4), 711-747. https://n9.cl/yymjxa
48. Millán, R. (2015). Social capital: its role in cooperation dilemmas and the coordination of actions. Estudios Sociológicos de El Colegio de México, 33. https://n9.cl/zcref5
49. Molina, P., Botero, S. and Montoya, J. (2016). Family firms: concepts and models for their analysis. Pensamiento & Gestión, (41), 116-149. https://n9.cl/8x8gk
50. Morales Rodríguez, J. F. (2024). Social exchange theory from Blau’s perspective. Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, (4), 129-146. https://doi.org/10.5477/cis/reis.4.129
51. Morán, P. (2005). Structural vs. relational integration: social capital and managerial performance. Strategic Management Journal, 26: 1129-151. https://n9.cl/cg7kq7
52. Mowday, RT (1998). Reflections on the study and relevance of organizational commitment. Human resource management review, 8 (4), 387-401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1053-4822(99)00006-6
53. Mujika, A., Ayerbe, M., Ayerbe, O., Elola, A. and Navarro, I. (2010). Manual for the self-assessment of social capital in organizations. Deusto Publications, Deusto University. https://n9.cl/j8stf
54. Nahapiet, J. & Ghoshal, S. (1998). Social Capital, Intellectual Capital, and the Organizational Advantage. Academy of Management Review, Vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 242-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/259373
55. Navas, P., Verdugo, M. Á., Amor, A. M., Crespo, M., and Martínez, S. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on Third Sector professionals working with population with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Documentación Social, (8), 11-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12969
56. Nencini, A., Romaioli, D. & Meneghini, AM. (2016). Volunteer motivation and organizational climate: factors promoting satisfaction and sustained volunteering in NPOs. Voluntas 27, 618-639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-015-9593-z
57. Ostrom, E. (2009), What is social capital? In VO Bartkus and JH Davis (Eds.), Social capital: reaching, reaching out (pp. 17-38). Edward Elgar Ed. https://n9.cl/fz54lv
58. Pearson, A.W., Carr, J.C. & Shaw, J.C. (2008). Toward a Theory of Familiness: A Social Capital Perspective. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 32, 949-969. https://n9.cl/3gqeu
59. Pinder, C. C. (1998). Motivation in work organizations. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315734606
60. Portes, A. (1998). Social capital: its origins and applications in modern society. https://n9.cl/e8uvf
61. Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of the American community. Simon & Schuster. https://doi.org/10.1145/358916.361990
62. Richard, P. J., Devinney, T. M., Yip, G. S., & Johnson, G. (2009). Measuring organizational performance: Toward methodological best practice. In Journal of Management (Vol. 35, Issue 3, pp. 718-804). https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206308330560
63. Ryan, R. & Deci, E. (2017). Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation. The Guilford Press. https://n9.cl/fophe
64. Siegler, V. (2014). Measuring Social Capital. UKONS, 2014(05, 29), 1-23. https://n9.cl/olyfi
65. Schumacker, R.E., & Lomax, R.G. (2004). A Beginner’s Guide to Structural Equation Modeling: Fourth Edition (2nd ed.). Psychology Press. https://n9.cl/o27sw
66. Tsai, W. and Ghoshal, S. (1998). Social capital and value creation: the role of intrafirm networks. Academy of Management Journal, 41 (4), 464-476. https://n9.cl/or5uik
67. Von Schnurbein, G. (2010). Foundations as honest brokers between market, state and nonprofits through building social capital, European Management Journal (8), 413-420. https://n9.cl/3zjsn
68. Wasko, M. & Faraj, S. (2005). Why should I share? Examining social capital and knowledge contribution in electronic networks of practice. MIS Quarterly, 29(1), 35-57. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/25148667
69. Watson, G. & Papamarcos, S. (2002) Social Capital and Organizational Commitment. Journal of Business and Psychology, 16 (4), 537-551. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1015498101372
70. Woolcock, M. (2001). The Place of Social Capital in Understanding Social and Economic Outcomes. The World Bank. Paper presented at Symposium on the Contribution of Human and Social Capital to Sustained Economic Growth and Well Being, Quebec. https://n9.cl/cw5rx
71. Woolcock, M. (2002). Social Capital in Theory and Practice: Reducing Poverty by Building Partnerships between States, Markets and Civil Society. In Social Capital and Poverty Reduction: Which Role for Civil Society Organizations and the State (pp. 21-48). https://n9.cl/xpguq
72. Zenck, M.C.; Ríos, I. and Rodríguez-Zapatero, M. (2019). Social capital and sustainability in the third sector, Gobernar: The Journal of Latin American Public Policy and Governance, 3(5:8), 57-72. https://n9.cl/2q15u