OUR MOVEMENT

Catalyst Now (formerly Catalyst 2030) is the global umbrella movement for the world’s social innovators, bringing together the world’s leading institutions, including Ashoka, the Schwab Foundation, Skoll, and Echoing Green, alongside thousands of grassroots leaders across more than 154 countries into one shared home. Rather than running projects, Catalyst Now enables the people and organisations who are already acting, serving as the systems orchestrator and connective tissue that allows ideas, capital, policy, and leadership to move together rather than in silos. Catalyst Now is the alignment layer and operating system of the social innovation economy.

Mission and Vision

MISSION

To co-create spaces where the world’s social innovators connect, collaborate and contribute to transformational change.

VISION

Thriving communities powered by social innovation in every corner of the world.

Our Core Values

Catalyst Now is a values-driven, member-led movement dedicated to transform systems through social innovation and collaborative action. Our core values guide every aspect of our work, shaping how we engage, collaborate, and create impact worldwide.

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People and nature at the centre

In everything we do, we place people, nature, and their ways of life at the heart of our work. We stand accountable to them for our actions.

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Co-creative mindset

The future of innovation is co-creation. We seek to acknowledge our own biases and silos and work to move beyond them. This includes sharing all relevant data when we collaborate and ensuring that everything Catalyst Now produces is non-proprietary.

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Collaborative leadership

We prioritize co-creating approaches that reflect shared ownership and credit collective impact. Our shared norms are based on the needs and challenges we face.

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Humble audacity

We have audacious goals and approach them with the humility to recognize that none of us alone knows how they can best be accomplished.

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Spirit of generosity

On any given day we are all donors, doers, visionaries or clients. We commit to sharing our knowledge, time and networks freely without expectation of receiving anything in return, other than the achievement of collective goals.

Our approach recognizes that sustainable change emerges from the collective wisdom and efforts of diverse stakeholders. As we look ahead, these values and our seven principles will continue to guide our actions, inform our decisions, and drive our impact.

Our Principles

Seven compelling principles, built on collaborative systems change, drive our movement's values and serve as benchmarks to inspire and measure members' activities:

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Convene as an Honest Broker

Create shared spaces for collaboration and co-creation that democratize the engagement of all stakeholders in society without discrimination.

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Connect

Use collaborative systems to change principles, connecting social entrepreneurs, innovators, and other stakeholders across diverse communities to generously share knowledge and resources and accelerate progress toward attaining the SDGs.

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Co-create

Work collaboratively to develop overall strategy and direction, providing all stakeholders with the opportunity to actively contribute to the future.

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Celebrate

Create consistent opportunities to celebrate our movement's accomplishments through awards ceremonies and events that keep members engaged and focused.

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Calibrate

Support impact through research and measurement of outcomes as our movement expands. Implement necessary recalibration to focus on the "true North" and achieve the SDGs.

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Cohere

Develop member organizations and activities coherently to form a shared identity of fellow travelers who are learning about and activating systems change, essential to growing our movement's impact.

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Change Consciousness

Shift norms away from individuality toward a belief that individual and community prosperity can be achieved through the same action

These principles guide us in addressing the root causes of social problems while envisioning large-scale systemic change. To ensure alignment, Catalyst Now members and the Secretariat pledge their commitment to these core values and principles upon joining our movement.

Our Theory of Change

Our theory of change has enabled us to build a powerful and impactful movement. As we evolve into Catalyst Now, we are recommitting to the core elements that have driven Catalyst 2030's theory of change while incorporating a new pillar based on our members' needs.
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Foundation

Our approach rests on three fundamental bases:

01

BUILDING AND MAINTAINING A STRONG GLOBAL MOVEMENT OF SOCIAL CHANGE INNOVATORS

We believe in the power of collective action and the importance of bringing together innovative minds from across the globe to drive meaningful change.

02

SUPPORTING DOMINANT CULTURE SHIFTS TOWARD EQUITY

We work to transform existing systems and cultures to create more equitable societies where everyone can thrive.

03

DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT

We leverage technology and digital solutions to connect, empower, and amplify the impact of our global network.

Strategic Pillars

Building upon this foundation, we have established three strategic pillars that guide our work. ‍
Together, these foundational elements and strategic pillars form a comprehensive framework that enables us to drive systemic change and create lasting positive impact across the globe.

  • 01

    Develop Enabling Environments

    We create supportive ecosystems for social innovation by:
    • Establishing chapters worldwide
    • Creating nurturing environments for social innovators to flourish
    • Promoting local representation and solutions
    • Supporting local impact ecosystems
  • 02

    Catalyze Collaborative Action

    We foster cooperation and collective impact through:
    • Driving cooperation to tackle complex challenges
    • Facilitating thematic cross-sectoral and cross-border initiatives
    • Promoting social innovation as a process to achieve the SDGs
    • Supporting thematic and field impact ecosystems that scale the impact of our members’ collaborations
  • 03

    Facilitate Learning and Systems Change

    We support our members through:

    • Providing comprehensive training and knowledge resources
    • Facilitating continuous learning and adaptation
    • Advancing systems change approaches and methodologies
    • Innovating to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and asynchronous learning

    • Our history

    A Global Movement for social innovation initiatives

    Catalyst Now is a fast-growing global movement of people and organizations committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 through impactful social innovation initiatives.

    Launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2020, Catalyst Now is a movement led by social entrepreneurs and innovators, responding to a global call to action for people and planet.

    Co-founded in 2019 by members of Ashoka, Echoing Green, the Schwab Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation, it was incubated by One Family Foundation and later supported by Panorama Global. Collaborating with communities, governments, businesses, and funders, we drive social innovation initiatives to implement bold strategies and sustainable solutions for a brighter future.

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    Collaborate for Social Innovation Initiatives

    We have a greater chance of achieving the 17 Global Goals outlined in the SDGs through social innovation initiatives that address the world’s most pressing problems. By collaborating, we can share ideas, improve access to information, deploy resources more effectively, and develop inclusive solutions that enhance people’s lives.

    Since 2020, committed people and organizations have increasingly joined forces in meaningful collaboration. We invite you to engage with us in our social innovation initiatives and be part of our expanding community.

    BECOME A MEMBER

    Our history

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    The global umbrella movement for the world’s social innovators

    Catalyst Now (formerly Catalyst 2030) is the global umbrella movement of people and organizations, built on the belief that the world’s most urgent challenges cannot wait, and that the solutions already exist. They just need to be connected, resourced, and scaled, Now. Launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2020, Catalyst Now is a global movement that brings together the full breadth of social innovation into one umbrella movement.

     Co-founded in 2019 by 100 members of prestigious organizations, including Ashoka, Echoing Green, the Schwab Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation, the initiative was initially incubated by One Family Foundation before receiving support from Panorama Global. By joining forces with communities, governments, businesses, and funders, we create the alignment this field has always lacked, through collective action and system-level change.

    Catalyst Now connects people who do not usually sit together, money that does not usually move together, and ideas that do not usually scale together for innovating initiatives that implement bold strategies and sustainable solutions to create a more equitable and thriving future for all.

    The innovators are already there. Catalyst Now makes them visible, connected, and powerful.
    Because Catalyst Now exists, systems behave differently.