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How to scale transformative social innovations through impact networks
Amplifying systems change through deep relations, long-term adaptation & wide reach.
Many impact models are broken.
The social change sector has absorbed the business world’s growth mentality.
Scale equals success.
Bigger. Faster. More.
The results?
Reinforcement of dominant systems.
One-Size-Fits-None copy-paste solutions.
Burnout due to lack of investment in well-being.
Superficial impact without addressing root causes.
Fragmentation of projects, that might even compete.
In short:
The growth-at-all-costs mindset, borrowed straight from the capitalist playbook, is mostly harmful.
Social innovators, who aim to widen reach, but de-prioritize deepening relationships or building for the long term often reproduce problems.
That's why, we need more holistic impact models.
Instead of just "scaling up," let's consider:
Depth: Fundamental structural and cultural system change.
Width: Expanding reach, influence, and diverse participation.
Length: Sustained, adaptable, long-term system persistence.
Let's unpack those 👇
Introducing the SCALE 3D Framework
Imagine you want to build a house.
You wouldn't just start hammering nails randomly.
You'd first figure out what kind of house you want (a small cabin? a family place? - the impact).
Then, you'd determine the necessary skills and materials (carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring, etc. – the capacities).
Finally, you'd assemble a team with the right expertise (a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician, etc. – the leadership roles).
Building a house is a complicated problem.
It can get tough.
But generally we know how to do it.
Social innovation tackles complex problems.
But, we don't need to make it more complex than it is right?
The SCALE 3D framework - mainly developed by Tim Strasser - makes it simpler without compromising complexity.
SCALE3D stands for Strategic Capacity-Development, Leadership, and Evaluation for Transformation in Three Dimensions.
I know.
It's a mouthful.
But, here are the main ideas:
Transformative Impact (The "Why" and big "What"): The desired changes in institutions, rules, norms, values, power structures.
Transformative Capacities are the "How": The collective abilities a network needs to achieve its desired impact.
Network Leadership Roles are the "Who" and the small "What": The "who" (in terms of distributed agency) and the "what" (in terms of specific actions) that build capacity.
Here is a visual of the model.
No need to get overwhelmed.
Let's explore each of the three dimensions one-by-one.
TIP: Access Tim's excel sheet for a detailed breakdown of evaluation indicators
Visual of the SCALE 3D Model created by Tim Strasser
1. Scaling Deep
Most scaling approaches are like trimming weeds.
They don't address the root.
Scaling deep means changing the "rules of the game".
Think power structures, relationships, trauma, policies, cultural norms, and mindsets.
Without deep, systemic change, we're just applying temporary fixes. We might alleviate some suffering, but we won't create truly just and regenerative futures.
(TIP: Tatiana Fraser and the Systems Sanctuary did some amazing research on the topic. Check it out here)
In order to catalyze deep impact, networks need deepening capacities.
These capacities are not just about individual skills.
They are also collective attributes.
Deepening Capacities
Challenging Dominant Power-Structures: Are you willing to speak truth to power and advocate for systemic change?
Reconciliation & Healing of Trauma: Are you addressing the historical and ongoing harms that contribute to the problem?
Understanding & Problematizing Root Causes: Are you going beyond the surface? What are the systemic drivers of the problem?
Identifying & Practicing Effective Solutions: Are you truly addressing root causes? Are you experimenting and learning?
Clarifying & Enacting Core Principles & Values: What are your non-negotiables? How do your values translate into action?
But these capacities don't just magically develop.
They are the result of distributed network leadership.
I.e. many people, who play their part.
Network Leadership Roles for Deepening Impact:
These roles, often distributed across multiple people, are essential for cultivating deepening capacities.
The Advocate influences policy and shifts public discourse.
The Evaluator promotes critical reflection so the network learns and adapts.
The Illuminator shines a light on injustice and showcases the need for transformation.
And many other roles, who deepen impacts.
These roles enable the network to go beyond surface-level interventions.
They aim for truly transformative change.
2. Scaling Long
Social innovation isn't a sprint.
It's a marathon.
Transformative change takes time.
Scaling long means building for resilience, adaptability, and sustainability.
We need to create initiatives that can weather storms and adapt to new challenges over the long haul.
This approach builds a group’s capacity to ensure the innovation persists, adapts, and evolves.
Lengthening Capacities
Generating Continuity of Resources & Activities: Are you securing diverse, sustainable funding and building strong, committed teams?
Fostering Well-being: Are you tending to well-being or are you on the way to burnout?
Ensuring Resilience in the Face of Challenges: Are you prepared for conflict, setbacks, and unexpected changes? How will you adapt?
Evolving Goals & Strategies: Are you continuously learning, adapting, and refining your approach based on experience?
Re-organizing & Decentralizing Governance Structures: Are you distributing power and decision-making to enhance resilience and adaptability?
You already guessed it:
To build lengthening capacities, specific leadership roles are needed.
Network Leadership Roles for Lengthening Impact:
These roles are about building the infrastructure for long-term impact:
The Resource Provider diversifies funding streams and builds long-term partnerships.
The Enabler builds the capacity of others to lead and contribute.
The Strategic Organizer creates processes for reflection, learning, and adaptation.
These roles (and many others) ensure that the network can sustains and evolves over time.
3. Scaling Wide
Scaling wide is about expanding collective reach.
But it's not just about numbers.
To create truly systemic change, we need to work across diverse communities and build a broad base of support for transformation.
To Scale Wide, Consider Building These Capacities:
Spreading & Adapting Approaches to Diverse Contexts: Are you tailoring your approaches to meet the specific needs and cultures of diverse communities and places?
Engaging a Variety of People & Perspectives: Are you actively seeking out, welcoming, and incorporating diverse voices, experiences, and viewpoints?
Cross-Movement Collaboration: Are you building alliances and partnerships with other movements, organizations, and networks with shared goals?
Building Coherence Across Diversity: Are you maintaining core principles and values while allowing for necessary adaptation and flexibility?
Let's see how to build these capacities through network leadership.
Network Leadership Roles for Widening Impact
These roles help the network expand its reach without losing its soul:
The Community Weaver connects people by fostering trust and understanding.
The Platform Host creates the spaces where people can connect and collaborate.
The Partnership Broker builds bridges between organizations strengthening cross-pollination.
These roles ensure that the network expands its reach in a way that's equitable and relevant.
Putting it into Practice
You don't have to do all of this at once.
The 3D Framework is a tool to approach collective impact more strategically.
Each of these dimensions serves as a practical guide to understanding complex scaling processes.
The tool equips practitioners, policymakers, and funders with an intuitive model for amplifying transformative impacts.
How to get started
Reflect: Where is your network strongest – Depth, Width, or Length? Where are the biggest gaps?
Prioritize: Which capacities are most critical to develop right now? Which leadership roles are most needed?
Connect: Who in your network is already playing these roles? Who could you partner with?
Weave: Invest in building strong relationships, trust, and distributed leadership.
Learn and Adapt: The SCALE 3D tool is a helpful resource, but it is not one fits all. Use it to evaluate, learn, and evolve.
This is about moving beyond the "bigger is better" trap.
It's about embracing a more holistic, transformative approach to social change.
This is about building movements, not just growing organizations.
Let's co-create regenerative, just and equitable futures.
Together.
Let's talk!
What are your thoughts?
How does this resonate with your work?
More to Explore This Week
 | How to create Systems Change Together (TEDx Talk)An introduction to the practice of weaving impact networks. |
 | The Networks Story Playbook (Created by Fito Network)Craft engaging narratives for your network to attract opportunities, funding and new members. |
This weekly newsletter is dedicated to exploring practices, mindsets, and strategies that make networks effective in driving systemic change. Each issue offers practical tools, real-world lessons, and curated opportunities to help you build impactful, collaborative networks & communities.
Stay tuned next Tuesday for more!
Adrian builds the capacity of impact networks & regenerative leaders to amplify systemic change. He is supporting weavers, funders and facilitators to engage in impact networks more fully.
