In general, those interested in the intentional community movement tend to insist on egalitarian governance and ownership models. Yet often there are individuals or groups who don’t have wealth, or if they do have wealth, don’t have the capacity to manage it well. In these cases, it is most appropriate and necessary to maintain ownership and the majority of decision-making power in a truly generous leader, or better yet, a group such as a non-profit board.
In general, those interested in the intentional community movement tend to insist on egalitarian governance and ownership models. Yet often there are individuals or groups who don’t have wealth, or if they do have wealth, don’t have the capacity to manage it well. For example, some may lack access to credit and have not learned to manage money in a way that promotes their and their dependents’ health and safety. In these cases, it is most appropriate and necessary to maintain ownership and keep the majority of decision-making power in a truly generous leader, or better yet, a group such as a non-profit board.
Appropriate beneficiaries of a non-egalitarian intentional community:
- Disadvantaged people who don’t have wealth or ways to obtain it: In these cases, an IC can help disadvantaged people gain access to shelter and other necessities of life. They may eventually reach a point of stability in which they can join fully in governance of their own community, but may not have the capacity initially. See the Community Types pages under the category Care and Social Safety Net for descriptions and examples.
- Inheritors who have wealth but lack capacity to manage it well: In these cases, benefactors would do well to invest in funding an intentional community that is willing to house and provide meals for the inheritor as a life-long contractual obligation. For example, parents of an only child with no close family, who has emotional and/or mental impairment could contract with a suitable intentional community to act as the substitute family, to take in the inheritor if and when needed. This meets not only the needs of the inheritor, but helps the organization to extend its resources to those with similar needs who are not fortunate to have parents able to pass on an inheritance. In these cases, ideally the inheritor is still held to the same rules and work contribution requirements as other members, in order to qualify for the same privileges.
Read more at Leadership Skills and Principles.