Methodology (How)

OUR CONSTRUCT

We’ve chosen to organize using a hybrid approach, blurring the lines between a traditional business and a non-profit entity - hoping to maximize the effectiveness of our desired outcomes. Futility Confounded, LLC can best be described as a ‘Social Enterprise.’

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Social /ˈsōSHəl/ - relating; needing companionship; living together in organized communities, in groups, in systems with complex communication; people meeting; gregarious (fond of company; sociable; loosely organized communities; associations). [word origin: ‘friend,’ ‘allied’]

Enterprise /ˈen(t)ərˌprīz/ - a project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult or requires effort; initiative and resourcefulness; entrepreneurial activity. [word origin: ‘something undertaken’]

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Our aspiration:  advance Greater Good within humanity.

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Greater /ɡrātər/ - intensity/ability/quality above normal; large; satisfactory; good; excellent; skilled; important

Good /ɡo͝od/ - morally right; righteous; beneficial; useful; appropriate; kind; enjoyable; satisfying; reliable provision; sufficient

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Our social enterprise model is constructed to cover costs, pay fair wages, and then donate the rest to advance Greater Good within humanity. We do this by pursuing social goals while maintaining financial sustainability. We’ve opted for a hybrid model to harness the potential benefits of a limited liability company with a structure that donates 100% of all profits to charity.

Futility Confounded, LLC 
allocates 100% of all profits toward :

1) Charity - Contributing 100% of profits to affect greater good. 

2) Fair wages, opportunity employment and empowered producers  - Empowering producers so they can work directly with consumers, thereby enabling their independence and ability to earn just wages. Employing folks who ‘mainstream’ society has failed to employ (due to institutional barriers, bias or simply misfortune). 

3) Generic internal growth - Transformative and innovative products and/or services (with goal of expanding greater good to more folks) 

We’re working to exploit the source code 

in order to change the world.

When describing the ‘how’ of Futility Confounded LLC, we love using words like: 

selfless, generous, humanitarian, charitable, 

compassionate, caring, kind and considerate. 

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Strategy (Basic Tenants)

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Relational Love 

We're a relationship-based venture with the goal of demonstrating transformative change for the greater good of humanity. 

Humility 

We hope for relationships where folks with the most need are helped first.

Collaborative Relationships 

We build when and where we’re invited by our partners to do so. We seek enduring relationships built on foundations of love and reciprocated cooperation. 

We partner locally to foster harmonious relationships globally.

Demonstrating Love 

We believe stepping forward, and remaining steadfast, as an example and witness, can lead to limitless future benefit. 

Steadfast 

We intend to remain steadfast to our vision, not abandoning our partners.

Uncompromising 

In order to push for making things right, we can’t waffle around with wrong things, partnering or compromising with those who support and profit off of injustice.

Not Money-Driven 

We don’t have money (we’ve literally started with almost zero capital), but we still hope to maximize benefit.

Futures are unknown and we can hope without limit.

We aren’t trying to produce money. Money does not solve all problems of downtrodden folks. Money is not always the solution. We may choose to operate without profit for an extended period of time, depending on the detailed strategy we’re pursuing based on our stated raison d'être and aspiration.

Change can also be influenced not only by direct action, but also by words, music, and by other digital means which might touch the emotions of folks supporting (either knowingly or unknowingly) suppressive institutions and systems.

Our influence is also targeted toward shifting the power balance, beneficially altering the economics of the downtrodden. This is done to affect change among the oppressive/repressive/suppressive/regressive institutions of the powerful - hoping to change their hearts over time, so they might also become advocates for the poor and downtrodden.

Transparent 

We don’t believe in fancy nonsense that obscures the reality of what we are or aren’t doing. We do believe in keeping things very clear, transparent to all, straightforward and simple.

Simpler is Better  

Better for the environment, better for the downtrodden and better for purchasing consumers. 

Making things simpler instead of more complex. 

Whether technology, ideas, equipment, supply chains, market platforms, product delivery, or administrative controls - our overarching mantra is that simplicity benefits both producers and consumers. 

Open-Ended 

We intend to go in directions where we can best serve. Whether this be agriculture, cooperation, education, healthcare, technology, communication or other means. 

We intend to construct no barriers or limits, but rather follow intuitive thinking to go where the wind blows us, while also reasoning with rational logic. 

Using both intuition and reasoning, we seek to achieve synergistic effects that are immersed in love.

Disrupt Disequilibrium

Transforming miserable non-equilibriums into just equilibriums.

We target disequilibrium. What most experts describe as stable state equilibrium of status quo institutional systems, we often view as a massive state of disequilibrium - whereby some institutional systems cause (or support) the marginalization, neglect and suffering of the majority of humanity. This disequilibrium is what has empowered the rich and powerful while suppressing the downtrodden.

We seek out ways of disrupting and changing historical/prevailing regressive and repressive socioeconomic constructs of disequilibrium, hoping to obtain some measure of liberty and freedom for the oppressed.

We attempt to disrupt existing repressive economic and social infrastructures and systems by harnessing imaginative creativity and organic production with the intent of both optimizing and exerting control over (rather than being controlled by) market variables (supply chains, distribution channels, marketing, etc), so producers receive fair and maximized profits. 

Humbly Highlighting Injustice While Enabling Mercy

Actions used by some entrenched institutions 

to support and sustain oppressive disequilibrium:

Oppressive - harsh authoritarian treatment; keeping folks in subservience and hardship by unjust exercise of authority

Repressive - subdue by force; restrain, prevent, inhibit 

Suppressive - forcibly put an end to or eliminate; prevent development, action, expression; restrain  

Regressive - return to former, less developed state; moving in a retrograde direction

Innovative Solutions

We aim to drive change, harnessing imaginative innovations and disruptive creativity to catalyze transformative actions. 

We’re not averse to pushing for innovative solutions that change antiquated systems, especially when and where communities seek for our help in affecting change for better.

Connectivity

When struggling producers are enabled to control their own production-to-consumer delivery systems, amazing results can potentially occur.

Technology Utilization

Rather than being abused by controlling technological platforms, we seek to leverage low cost initiatives that low-income producers are able to profit from and control, rather than being ‘controlled by.’

Cooperative Mindset 

While we seek to maximize benefit to all people, implementation efficiencies might also be maximized by using community focused initiatives. 

We believe this also helps spread relational love. 

Knowledge/Information

Solving problems often simply involves making connections among folks who have access to specific information or the ability to transform knowledge into action. 

Improved profitability, productivity, healthcare and education can all potentially lead to better livelihoods for vulnerable people.

Scale of Operations

We’re not averse to small scale efforts, but also recognize that, where and when able, increased scale of operations may help to keep costs low as a ratio of expenses compared to charity spread across beneficiaries. 

We seek to create scalable social ventures that can transform lives.

Proofs of Concept

We use small scale, intentional proofs of concept and projects prior to large-scale expansion or launches. We intend to be as sure as objectively possible of results before expansion, assuring all stakeholders of potential greater good while attempting to avoid unintended consequences.