Capital Framework

Perpetual Social Capital

PSC

A funding model where capital cycles indefinitely without interest or debt, creating compound impact from every dollar deployed.

What is Perpetual Social Capital?

Perpetual Social Capital (PSC) is a funding model where capital cycles indefinitely without interest or debt. Instead of a donated dollar being spent once, PSC beneficiaries pay forward 85-95% to the next recipient. With an 85% recycling rate, $100,000 creates $667,000 in total system value—a 6.67× multiplier.

The Problem PSC Solves

Traditional Grants

$100K spent once = $100K impact. Capital consumed, requiring constant fundraising.

Loans

Creates debt obligations that strain recipients and extract value through interest.

Equity

Requires returns that often conflict with mission, leading to drift.

PSC creates a fourth option: capital that strengthens systems rather than extracting from them.

How PSC Works

  1. 1

    Capital deployed

    Initial capital flows to the first beneficiary

  2. 2

    Value created

    Beneficiary uses capital to create value (education, housing, business)

  3. 3

    Pay forward

    When able, beneficiary pays forward 85-95% to the next recipient

  4. 4

    Cycle repeats

    Next beneficiary receives capital, uses it, pays forward

  5. 5

    Corpus preserved

    Capital cycles indefinitely, creating compound impact

Key Numbers

6.67×

Impact multiplier at 85% recycling

$667K

Total value from $100K initial

85-95%

Typical pay-forward rate

0%

Interest charged

Where PSC Applies

Education funding: Students pay forward when employed
Housing programs: Homeowners pay forward equity gains
Small business: Entrepreneurs pay forward when profitable
Healthcare access: Patients pay forward when able

PSC Calculator

Model different recycling rates and scenarios

Full Explainer

Deep dive into PSC theory and mathematics