This research examines how the For Purpose domain can better organise to deliver public value at scale through greater collaboration, capacity building, and innovation.
As part of my current exploratory phase, I am establishing the research boundaries of the domain before formalising an academic partnership.
Lines of Enquiry
The research focuses on two primary areas:
1. From capital to outcomes — How does funding become real-world impact?
- Where does funding come from, and which instruments (grants, loans, blended finance) work best for risky or early-stage interventions?
- What people, processes, and digital tools turn funding into results?
- How do proven approaches spread from one organisation or region to another?
2. Governance and longevity — How is mission protected over time?
- Which policies, standards, and intermediaries shape how capital is used?
- What risks cause mission drift, and which governance practices prevent it?
- What measurements and accountabilities best express public value in context?
Research approach
The research employs hybrid methods, including:
- Semi-structured interviews with leaders and practitioners across the domain,
- Quantitative surveys with organisations,
- Synthesis of recurring themes and patterns using a theory of systems change framework, and
- Open sharing of emerging insights for critique and refinement for further research.
This approach is deliberatively iterative, flexible and exploratory, as it aims to identify meaningful patterns rather than produce formal evaluations or policy recommendations.
What's In It For You?
This research is open and participatory. By getting involved, you will gain access to short research notes, case studies, and tools designed to help practitioners and policy teams act.
Ethics and data use
All participation is conducted with informed consent and in accordance with applicable privacy laws. I anonymise data by default and publish identifiable information only with explicit consent. You can read more on my Privacy Policy.
Glossary
For Purpose domain: An area of economic activity characterised by mission primacy, hybrid financing, and structurally diffuse value capture.
Mission primacy: Prioritising social or public value outcomes over maximising financial returns.
Hybrid financing: The strategic use of mixed philanthropic, public, and commercial capital.
Structurally diffuse value capture: A situation where societal benefits are distributed among stakeholders and not fully retained by the organisations that generate them.