#78: Intermediation is Not Overhead
In this episode, Joy Anderson reflects on a renewed wave of conversations around innovative finance following recent funding disruptions across the feminist movement, particularly in the context of discussions surrounding the Women Deliver conference in Australia. Drawing from Criterion Institute’s long-standing work at the intersection of finance and social change, she introduces a set of reframes designed to move organizations beyond the narrow question of “how do we get more funding?” toward a deeper understanding of how capital actually moves within economic systems.
The episode outlines seven key reframes. Through these reframes, Joy highlights the importance of financial infrastructure—intermediaries, instruments, and systems that structure relationships and shape power. Ultimately, the episode argues that sustainable and equitable movement-building depends not on accessing more money, but on intentionally designing the relationships and systems through which finance operates.
Episode Highlights
00:00 - Introduction to Innovative Finance and Feminist Movements
05:14 - Understanding Economic Relationships in Movements
10:14 - The Role of Financial Intermediaries
15:08 - Reframing Funding and Economic Relationships
20:10 - Building Trust and Stability in Financial Systems
Relevant Links
Criterion Institute website and LinkedIn
Joy’s LinkedIn
Dive Deeper
Pacific Possibilities: Designing Better Financial Vehicles for the Pacific
Fostering a Feminist Financial Imagination
Other episodes you might also like:
#75: When the Moment Arrives: Acting on Systems Opportunities
#58: Check List or Trust List: Power, Performance, and the Politics of Procedure
#63: From Scarcity to Power: Reimagining Finance for Feminist Movements
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