Since 1999, I’ve been involved with ethosvo.org in various capacities. Though we didn’t always go by the name Ethos, we’ve been on this journey for a long time. Over the years, I’ve contributed to almost every project that has passed through our social value journey. In 2019, I co-founded TeamPolice, and in 2020, I co-led the Young Leaders initiative, where we tested our Value Exchange practice with 65 young people. We immersed them in our system and empowered them to define their own journey. It was an incredibly rewarding experience and laid the groundwork for The Commons Fund.
Drawing from the lessons learned through Young Leaders, and with 25 years of experience, I’m more motivated than ever to drive change through The Commons Fund. We’re at a critical moment where geopolitical and economic uncertainty is testing the very foundations of our societies and businesses. This makes it clear: unless we rebuild and strengthen our social and environmental fabric, our collective future will remain precarious.
The Commons Fund is about enabling:
Systemic change that unlocks innovation and passion for the wellbeing of people and the planet, especially among the 1.5 billion people currently considered economically inactive.
Empowering communities to leverage their social capital, their lived experiences to find the time and funding to solve the problems they are uniquely positioned to address.
And, creating a more meaningful future of work. As we face accelerating changes, including AI-driven job displacement, The Commons Fund offers an opportunity to take charge of the future of work today, creating work and systems that prioritize the wellbeing of both people and the planet.
Now, more than ever, feels like the time to create lasting change and navigate these uncertain times. The Commons Fund is an initiative that tackles these urgent challenges head-on, providing the tools and enabling the people to rebuild and reshape our future.
February 2025