💰 Solidarity Economics & Resource Ethics

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Why It Matters

Pods often face funding instability, supply shortages, or external pressure.
Chasing foundation grants or corporate sponsorship can invite surveillance, policy restrictions, or division.
Using solidarity economics — mutual support, transparent practices, and alternative economies — helps keep pods independent, sustainable, and trusted.

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What You'll Learn

1. Resource Mapping – How to inventory skills, spaces, and supplies before seeking outside funds.
2. Ethical Funding Practices – Assessing risks and benefits of grassroots, foundation, or cooperative models.
3. Transparent Accounting – Systems for trust without exposing sensitive details.
4. Shared Infrastructure – Agreements for pooled supplies, vehicles, and emergency support across pods.
5. Alternative Economies – Time banks, skill exchanges, and community-driven funding models.

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Resource Mapping Tools

Skills Inventory

List member skills such as:

• Medical, legal, mechanical, comms, facilitation, cooking.
• Identify underused skills (e.g., a mechanic who can maintain vehicles).

Asset Mapping

Catalog existing resources:

• Vehicles, tools, storage spaces, kitchens, radios, generators.
• Ask: “What do we already have that we’re not fully using?”

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Funding Source Risk Assessment

Source Type	Pros	Cons	Mitigation
Grassroots Donations	High autonomy	Unpredictable	Build a recurring donor circle
Foundation Grants	Large sums	Often strings attached, reporting	Use fiscal sponsor & strict terms
Community Economies	Sustainable, local control	Slower to build	Combine with skill trades & events
Corporate/Government	Fast cash, big numbers	Surveillance, conditions, reputation	Avoid unless life-or-death emergency

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Transparent Accounting Models

• Blind balance reporting: Share totals without revealing sensitive vendors or recipients.
• Three-person rule: All withdrawals require 2 verifiers.
• Quarterly public reports: Redacted to protect identities.
• Digital tools: OpenCollective (for public-facing funds), Signal groups for secure updates.

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Shared Infrastructure Agreements

• Equipment Sharing:

  • Maintenance responsibilities, usage logs, repair funds.
  • Clear priority rules during overlapping emergencies.

• Cross-Pod Resource Matrix:

  • Who has which vehicles, kitchens, radios, or large-capacity spaces.
  • Emergency access agreements.

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Funding Decision Flow

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Quick Action Steps

1. Complete a skills and asset inventory before fundraising.
2. Establish secure, transparent financial reporting (blind totals + 3-person rule).
3. Build cross-pod sharing agreements for high-cost gear and spaces.
4. Develop at least one recurring, community-driven funding stream (sustaining donors, skill trades, workshops).

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Risks & Red Lines

• Never let one person control all finances or supplies.
• Avoid funding sources that require compromising safety or member data.
• Public fundraising must balance visibility with OPSEC (no sensitive details online).

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Case Study: Pod X

• Problem: Relied heavily on unstable grants.
• Solution: Built a 50-person sustaining donor circle ($20–50/month each).
• Result: Consistent $3,000/month in unrestricted, safe funds.

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Checklist

• Has completed a skills and asset mapping exercise.
• Can explain the pod’s funding philosophy to new members.
• Can identify and avoid exploitative funding sources.
• Knows how to access shared regional resources.
• Has participated in at least one alternative economy pilot (skill trade, time bank).

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Resource Appendix

• Resource Mapping Kit (skills inventory, asset tracker, unused resource guide).
• Funding Evaluation Cards (risk assessment prompts).
• Sample Equipment Sharing Agreements.
• Solidarity Economy Models Library:
  • Worker co-ops, community land trusts, mutual aid financial circles.