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So I want to make sure I'm interpreting this trait from the Pathfinder Society Field Guide correctly.
Pathfinders of different backgrounds don’t always realize what’s best for them, and you have perfected the art of forcing your magical boons on your allies. Whenever you cast a harmless spell, you gain a +2 trait bonus on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance, and the saving throw DC of the spell (if any) is increased by 2.
The RAI seems to be in order to get past other PCS who has Spell Resistance or other defensive abilities they can't control. So what are Harlmless spells? Some things make sense - like Bull's Strength, but what about Sanctuary? That does not harm the anybody, but it can have an effect on someone. It is harmless?
Does Insistent Benefactor increase the save DC for Sanctuary? If it does not, please explain.
Some spells have a (harmless) notation in the save field. I would base it on that. See hide from undead, for example. Sanctuary has no such indicator, so it doesn't qualify for the trait.
It's basically the designers' way of saying "Sure, you could resist the spell, but I don't see why."
In this case, harmless spells are those spells that have (harmless) somewhere in the "Saving Throw" line, indicating that a targeted creature may attempt a save even if the spell is "harmless".
(harmless): The spell is usually beneficial, not harmful, but a targeted creature can attempt a saving throw if it desires.
Sanctuary has a Saving Throw listing of Will Negates;
Hex Ward has a Saving Throw listing of Will Negates (harmless);
It's worth noting that the reason Sanctuary isn't harmless is that the target isn't making a save. The save is for anyone who tries to attack the target, so it's certainly a harmful effect at that point. (Sanctuary also doesn't care about Spell Resistance, so something like Superstition wouldn't apply anyway.)