The Future is Collective Case Studies of Collective Social Innovation 2025

Introduction Since 1998, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has recognized social entrepreneurs and innovators around the globe developing outstanding models and approaches to solving the world’s greatest challenges. These awards are given to leaders, recognizing the unique talents and skills that social entrepreneurs and innovators bring to their work. Today, the Schwab Foundation’s network encompasses 500 leaders positively influencing the lives of 900 million people across the globe. These awards shine a light on the growing importance of social innovation in achieving systemic change. However, this approach has a blind spot. In many cases of social innovation, the recognition of visionary individuals can unintentionally obscure the more patient and less public role of collectives in social innovation. Collectives are assemblages of citizens, communities and colleagues who innovate together, often in a distinctly co-creative manner that does not distinguish the innovations of a single individual or leader. Recognizing that this type of social innovation plays an outsized role in the development of social change, in 2022, the Schwab Foundation decided to expand its award types to include the Collective Social Innovation Award. In the last three years, the Schwab Foundation has awarded this designation to 21 innovators representing 11 collective social innovation organizations. This case study book highlights the efforts of these awardees, recognizing the unique approaches that collectives are using to develop and promote social innovation. What is collective social innovation? Today’s social challenges are increasingly interconnected and complex. In a rapidly changing world, it is no longer feasible for single organizations to tackle systemic issues in isolation. Rather, there must be ways of working together that overcome historical divides, such as scientific disciplines, industries and sectors, cultural divisions, and geographic borders.The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship defines collective social innovators as cross-sector leaders who lead or facilitate groups or networks of organizations committed to addressing a bigger problem than what individual organizations can take on. This definition highlights models that seek to overcome social inequalities, while incorporating the perspectives and needs of excluded and marginalized groups as well as vulnerable ecosystems. Finally, these approaches are distinct from scaling programmatic interventions and are best suited to achieving large-scale systemic change. Despite the urgent need for collective innovation, collective approaches are not new. Historian Yuval Noah Harari writes, “[Humans] rule the world not because we are so wise, but because we are the only animals that can cooperate flexibly in large numbers.”1 The archetype of the lone innovator is actually a relatively new one. Collective approaches to social change have been prevalent throughout human history, with small changes accruing over time as communities and groups share information, build upon promising ideas, and collaborate to solve problems. While collective action is not new, the size and complexity of social challenges has grown immeasurably. Contemporary problems, with greater interconnectedness between geographies and disciplines, require innovation with forms of organizing that can incorporate more diverse perspectives and bridge conventional divisions. Collective social innovation is growing in importance for solving large-scale challenges, and it is important to understand and celebrate these approaches as they evolve to meet current needs. Why feature case studies of collective social innovation? In this book, you will find 10 case studies of collective social innovation from around the world. These initiatives are exceptionally diverse, representing a range of constituencies, geographies, impact themes and strategies. In spite of this diversity, they are united in their commitment to fully representing a multitude of perspectives and approaches, rather than elevating single solutions and organizations. 1. Harari, Y. N. (2024). Nexus. Penguin Random House. Collective social innovators are cross-sector leaders who lead, orchestrate or facilitate groups or networks of organizations addressing societal challenges. The Future is Collective: Case Studies of Collective Social Innovation 3