Seeds of the Next Economy

Beyond grants, what systems of generating, governing, and circulating resources can support a just and life-sustaining future?

The Seeds of the Next Economy invites participants to look beyond the immediate funding challenges of a world of shrinking resources and civic space. During three sessions with experts from Spring and guest practitioners, we explore the question: What kinds of economic systems might better support long-term flourishing for people, communities, and the planet?

The series, made possible with support from the Ford Foundation, is designed for civil society leaders, funders, movement builders, and impact investors looking to catalyze more regenerative flows of money.

Grounded in the “Three Horizons” framework, the series explores how different approaches to resourcing coexist today. While First Horizon actions focus on improving existing systems, and Second Horizon actions experiment with new approaches, Third Horizon actions lead us toward emerging financial and operating models and more fundamental shifts.

For decades, civil society has been operating within a system of scarcity. Short-term funding cycles and restrictive financial structures can leave social and climate justice organizations and movements focused on surviving the next funding cycle rather than building the conditions for long-term systems change.

This first session dismantles the myth of scarcity by acknowledging how the current financial architecture intentionally manufactures wealth and starves systemic change. María Luisa Chávez, of Beneficial Returns, and Jennifer Astone, advisor to Agroecology Fund each reflect on their work, sharing real-life examples, lessons learned and emerging possibilities in shaping more just and life-sustaining economies and societies.

Watch the session recording in:

English | Español | Português

Download the above illustration in:

English | Español | Português

Slido responses (multilingual, crowdsourced responses to the discussion question: What ideas, questions or feelings are coming up for you from the session so far?)

Resources and links mentioned in the session:

Beneficial Returns
Just Economy Institute
Agroecology Fund
13 Principles of Agroecology
Philanthropy needs new paths to a just economy (Alliance Magazine Op-Ed)
Vanessa Machado de Oliveira

What does it really take for communities to collectively own and manage the assets they depend on?

Collective ownership can lead to greater freedom from external interests and strengthen community sovereignty. But it also comes with friction.

How do communities manage land, energy systems, forests and other shared assets while navigating the very real challenges of governance, decision-making and day-to-day operations? This session explores what it takes to build the muscles needed to manage decentralized assets while navigating operational challenges, bureaucracy and the risk of cooptation.

We’ll be joined by two practitioners bringing decades of experience in community-led approaches to land, forests, energy and territorial governance: Arturo Massol, Executive Director of Casa Pueblo in Puerto Rico, and Inty Arcos, Coordinator of the Mancomunidad de Bosques del Chocó Andino in Ecuador.

The recording and resources will be shared here after the session ends.

Today’s demand for short-term financial returns and evidence of social impact steals capacity away from scaling transformative change—something that happens on generational timelines. In this closing session, we explore time differently. The Third Horizon bridges deep, ecological time with practical engineering of financial ecosystems built for the crises and complexities of our era.

Our expert speaker is Dr. Astrid J. Scholz from the Wealth Hackers Initiative.

The recording and resources will be shared here after the session ends.

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Seeds of the Next Economy is one part of Spring's broader Financial Innovation and Resilience (FIRE) program, which has supported leadership teams from over 500 social and climate justice organizations in more than 70 countries to build greater financial strength. If you want to help catalyze more regenerative flows of money — as a partner, collaborator or participant — we'd like to hear from you.

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3 people work around a table during a FIRE training

Seeds of the Next Economy

A 3-part series exploring wealth, ownership and regenerative capital

Beyond grants, what systems of generating, governing, and circulating resources can support a just and life-sustaining future?

Session 1 | Shifting Worldviews: From Scarcity to Collective Abundance

Session 2 | Reclaiming the Commons:

The Freedom and Friction of Community-Controlled Assets

Session 3 | Long-term Flows of Relational Capital

October 15, 2026

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