The Future is Collective Advancing Collective Social Innovation to Address Societys Biggest Challenges 2025

Collective social innovators, like all social entrepreneurs, exist to develop and implement innovative organizational models to address social and/or environmental challenges without profit as the primary purpose.7 However, collective social innovators also operate with a specific set of values that prioritize a multiplicity of actors, perspectives and solutions when addressing social issues. These values are uniquely suited, in particular, to address the types of complex, interconnected challenges that are growing in prevalence today. Importantly, these collective values emphasize process as well as outcomes, ensuring that many voices – including those with lived experience of a social issue – are included in the development of solutions. This means that evidence-based technical approaches are often combined with deeply transformative relational approaches. Positive outcomes are seen as legitimate because they involve all stakeholders, not merely as a sideshow but rather as the main event. This emphasis on representation and participation is not just idealistic but also pragmatic: solutions are ultimately more sustainable when they involve the key stakeholders who will be responsible for living with the outcomes that result. The research revealed five key values that drive the work of collective social innovators: Value 1: Bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to co-create solutions The primary value that collective social innovators bring to their work is ensuring a broad range of stakeholders are involved with the work from inception by building collective structures for long- term participation. By integrating the goals and interests of various groups – including communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and governments – collective social innovators develop processes for co-creation that are ultimately more sustainable and effective. Far from a rubber-stamping exercise, collective social innovators create strong “containers” that incorporate diverse perspectives, expertise and resources when addressing complex challenges. This value also emphasizes inclusivity and shared ownership, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued in the problem-solving process. These processes ultimately encourage the development of mutual trust and the confidence that stakeholders are working in the interests of the broader group. Value 2: A commitment to systemic impact over short-term fixes Collective social innovators are committed to achieving transformational results at a broad scale, guided by a clear “north star” that provides shared purpose and strategic alignment. Importantly, rather than striving for total consensus among all stakeholders, these innovators prioritize deep listening and comprehensive consultation. They recognize that achieving large-scale change requires navigating diverse perspectives while maintaining a bias for action and impact. Furthermore, collective social innovators achieve their impact by addressing root causes rather than just symptoms. By keeping their focus on systemic change, they ensure that their work leads to long-term, sustainable improvements rather than temporary fixes. This approach requires them to create solutions that are deeply embedded in communities, ensuring sustainability over time. Value 3: Maintaining flexibility by anticipating emergence and learning from failure Collective social innovators also emphasize two interrelated values: anticipating emergence and learning from failure. When these two values are combined, they create a productive flexibility, where strategies and solutions emerge as the learning process unfolds and as local contexts require. Anticipating emergence requires openness to change and the ability to shift strategies as the situation evolves. Collective social innovators avoid rigidity by embracing localized approaches tailored to specific contexts. This balance nurtures creativity and empowers communities to contribute unique perspectives and solutions within the framework of the collective aim. The collective social innovators profiled in this report are, without exception, extraordinarily ambitious and committed to positive outcomes. To realize these aspirations, collective social innovators encourage their networks to experiment with innovative ideas, take calculated risks, learn from each other’s successes and failures, and adapt to unexpected outcomes. Value 4: Restoring the agency of those closest to the issues Collective social innovators also work to ensure that those closest to the issues are included in the process to drive meaningful and sustainable change. By including individuals and communities directly impacted by challenges, this value recognizes that lived experiences offer insights that are critically important for crafting effective solutions. Importantly, this value means that solutions developed in one context may look very different from solutions derived in another. Rather than driving towards single solutions, restoring agency requires collective social innovators to build “connective tissue” across actors and geographies by creating spaces to regularly share and learn from a portfolio of solutions.8 Restoration of agency also promotes dignity, builds capacity and strengthens resilience, ensuring that interventions are not only relevant but also culturally and contextually appropriate. Collective social innovators operate with a specific set of values that prioritize a multiplicity of actors, perspectives and solutions when addressing social issues. The Future is Collective: Advancing Collective Social Innovation to Address Society’s Biggest Challenges 10