Why do good institutions fail?
Climate funds run out. Charities close. Research labs lose grants. The pattern is always the same: short-term money funding long-term missions.
IRSA (Institute for Regenerative Systems Architecture) studies this problem—and designs solutions. We develop theory and tools for building institutions that strengthen over time instead of slowly breaking down.
Our Research Program
Eleven papers in canonical reading order:
- 1Regenerative Capital Theory — The fourth capital class
- 2Perpetual Social Capital — The flagship instrument
- 3Architectures of Ease — Behavioural design
- 4Regenerative Cycle Architecture — Why institutions fail
- 5Alignment Capital — Formal operators (Δ, Λ)
- 6Political Economy — Power & incentives
- 7Climate Economics — Application: political fragility
- 8Capital Markets — Application: financial cycles
- 9Development Finance — Application: state capability
- 10Regenerative Architecture Thinking — Synthesis & Re:School
- 11Regenerative Economic Architecture — Structural invariants
Our Mission
We exist to solve a fundamental problem: the temporal mismatch between funding cycles and mission cycles.
Funding operates on 1-5 year cycles (budgets, elections, grants, markets). Missions operate on 25-100+ year cycles (climate, education, infrastructure, ecosystems). This 10-100× mismatch causes structural fragility—good institutions break down over time regardless of how well they're run.
Through rigorous research, practical tools, and real-world pilots, we're developing Regenerative Capital—a fourth capital class alongside debt, equity, and grants. Capital designed to match mission timescales, not fragility cycles.
Our Values
Mission-First Design
We design capital structures that serve missions, not the other way around. Systems should strengthen institutions over time, not weaken them.
Open Knowledge
Our research is published openly. Advancing regenerative systems benefits the entire ecosystem, not just individual actors.
Collaborative Spirit
We work with foundations, governments, universities, and social enterprises to pilot regenerative structures in real-world contexts.
Long-Horizon Thinking
We design for decades and centuries, not quarters and election cycles. True resilience requires matching capital to mission timescales.
Our Journey
IRSA Founded
Institute for Regenerative Systems Architecture established to conduct rigorous research on why institutions fail and how to design ones that last.
Eleven-Paper Research Program Published
Complete research program released: RCT, PSC, AoE, RCA, Alignment Capital, Political Economy, Climate Economics, Capital Markets, Development Finance, RAT, and REA.
Interactive Tools & Explainers Launch
22+ interactive dashboards, 11 explainer guides, and 80+ term research glossary released for researchers and practitioners.
Pilot Partnerships
Working with healthcare systems, educational institutions, climate funds, and social enterprises to implement regenerative capital structures.
Re:School Educational Programs
Launching educational courses based on Regenerative Architecture Thinking for practitioners and researchers.
Applications
Our framework applies wherever long-term missions face short-term funding fragility.
Philanthropy (PSC)
Perpetual Social Capital: gifts that cycle back, helping beneficiary after beneficiary without creating debt. Our flagship application.
Result: 16-27× more impact than traditional grants
Climate Adaptation
Climate infrastructure needs 50+ year horizons. Political cycles are 4 years. PSC-G provides capital that persists across elections and crises.
Result: Infrastructure that survives political turnover
Capital Markets
Quarterly earnings crush long-term R&D. Regenerative Capital Markets redesign structures to enable decade-scale value creation.
Result: Long-horizon investment without short-term capture
Get Involved
Building regenerative systems is a collaborative effort. Here are concrete ways you can contribute.
Pilot a Program
Foundations, universities, hospitals, climate funds, and social enterprises can partner with us to design and implement regenerative capital structures.
Discuss a pilotCollaborate on Research
Economists, policy researchers, and doctoral students interested in institutional design, public finance, or temporal governance—let's work together.
Explore collaborationJoin as Research Fellow
Experienced researchers, doctoral candidates, and practitioners can join IRSA as Research Fellows to advance specific research programs.
Apply as FellowCite Our Research
Working on related topics? Our papers are open access. Cite them, build on them, challenge them—that's how fields develop.
Get citationsHost a Presentation
We speak at conferences, universities, foundations, and professional associations about regenerative systems and institutional design.
Invite us to speakShare Feedback
Used our tools? Read our papers? Have critiques or suggestions? Your feedback shapes how we develop the theory and practice.
Send feedbackPartners & Affiliates
IRSA collaborates with organizations implementing regenerative systems in practice.
Elevate Gift
Elevate applies IRSA's research in real-world contexts, implementing Perpetual Social Capital for individual donors, foundations, and institutions. Through Elevate's platform, theoretical frameworks become practical tools for regenerative giving.
Visit ElevateReady to Connect?
Whether you're exploring regenerative systems, researching institutional design, or looking to implement new capital structures—we'd love to hear from you.