FAQs
Is this a commune?
1
No. Private property exists, participation is voluntary, and exit is always available. Foundation is governed by a ratified democratic constitution — not a charismatic founder or shared ideology. Residents own their personal property and can leave at any time with their assets intact. The community owns the land and infrastructure permanently — not the people who live there.
Who's in charge?
2
A ratified democratic constitution governs Foundation — not a founder, board, or central authority. Every adult resident has one vote. Major structural changes require a 75% supermajority. Leadership roles are elected, term-limited, and subject to recall. The constitution was specifically designed with founder sunset provisions to prevent any individual from accumulating permanent authority over the community.
What happens if it fails?
3
The land stays protected in the Community Land Trust and the data becomes public research. Failure is documented, not hidden — that's part of the design. The legal structure ensures the land cannot be liquidated or privatized if the community dissolves. Every lesson learned becomes part of the open-source blueprint available to future communities attempting something similar.
How is it funded?
4
Industrial hemp production funds the baseline — biochar for carbon sequestration, hempcrete for carbon-negative construction, and carbon credits generate revenue from Year 1. Foundation is not dependent on grants or donations as its primary funding source. The Public Benefit Corporation runs the industrial operations, and revenue flows directly into funding the Guaranteed Necessities every resident receives.
Do people still work?
5
Yes. Guaranteed Necessities remove survival anxiety — they don't remove ambition, contribution, or meaning. Research from basic income pilots in Finland, Stockton, and Manitoba consistently shows that when survival pressure is removed, people don't stop contributing. They redirect toward work they actually care about. Foundation is designed to channel that energy into innovation, caregiving, farming, building, and governance.
Is this legal?
6
Washington State has a specific statute — RCW 36.70A.350 — enabling New Fully Contained Communities as designated Urban Growth Areas outside existing city limits. Foundation's three-layer legal structure (Community Land Trust, Public Benefit Corporation, and Cooperative) is built on established legal frameworks with decades of real-world precedent. The internal credit system is structured as a cooperative accounting unit, not a currency.
How do I get involved?
7
Start with the book — Foundation: An Experiment in Building What Comes NEXT — available now on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. The book is the complete blueprint: governance constitution, economic model, physical design, and the evidence base behind every major decision. Then join the list at whatcomesnext.eco to stay informed as site selection, residency applications, and project milestones develop.