Home About Economic Imaginations Lab Events Resources Get Involved
Beta Commons Lab

Exploring how resources, value, and relationships could be organized differently

We design and advance equitable models of funding, ownership, and resource allocation — combining research, practical tools, and community-driven experimentation.

β
Testing Alternatives

There is no alternative — or so it seems

Many people working across civil society, philanthropy, and social change operate within systems they feel unable to change. There is a widespread perception that "there is no alternative" to how funding, ownership, and value creation are currently organized.

Funding systems are highly concentrated and unequal — communities remain dependent on external resources.
Alternative models exist, but are not widely shared, resourced, or tested.
Change requires shifts from both funders and recipients — and practical experimentation to move beyond critique.

"Current systems are not inevitable — and viable alternatives already exist."

We challenge how money and power are distributed, and develop practical alternatives across funding, ownership, and public value.

Learn About Us