As a systems catalyst, our work often feels behind the scenes, but it is foundational. We focus on reshaping the conditions under which our economy operates: who it serves, who it excludes, and how that can change. We’re partnering with cities that have a long history of community-centered economies to experiment with cooperative business ecosystems to be able to reinvest in community-owned assets.

Because we’re a systems catalyst, our role goes beyond holding a bird’s-eye view of the field. We engage deeply with partners to surface needs and opportunities across the ecosystem. By engaging these less visible but vital organizations, we help ensure that new voices, perspectives, and strategies strengthen the broader movement.

Common Future is challenging this perspective. We are one of the only economic justice organizations approaching narrative work through a values-first lens, helping people see their stake in transforming the economy rather than just fixing what’s broken. Our goal is to shift the Overton Window by rooting economic storytelling in values like dignity, repair, and care.

We recognize that systemic change can’t happen without public imagination. That’s why we launched the Futurists—an online community of over 73,000 (and growing) people who care about economic justice, even if they don’t call themselves advocates or leaders. These are everyday people with a stake in a better future, and they’re central to our narrative and power-building strategy. This work expands who gets to shape the public conversation, and ensures that our movement isn’t just talking in an echo chamber.

Our structure allows us to support underrecognized grassroots actors, respond to emerging threats or gaps, and prototype new ideas quickly—often well before they’re on the radar of mainstream philanthropy. This kind of nimbleness is only possible because many of our funders trust us with flexible, unrestricted capital. That trust has allowed us to act decisively and catalytically to identify the right partners, test new ideas, and invest in groups that may not have institutional backing but are leading transformational work on the ground.