Hello Reader,

How come that ecosystem builders lose their jobs in times of crisis when they are, in fact, essential workers?

This question has been living rent-free in my brain for weeks and it's time we talked about it.

This is how Charlton Cunningham opened his guest blog post for the ESHIP Alliance last week (thank you, Charlton!). And Charlton is not alone.

Other government-backed programs are feeling the same pressure.

In Season 7 of Ecosystems for Change, I took you on a road trip to visit nine Regional Innovation Engines that qualified for up to $160 million over ten years to build critical innovation ecosystems in the US.

Since the NSF TIP Directorate (that houses the Engines) received less appropriated funding than Congress originally authorized, only a limited annual funding pool exists for both existing Engines and new finalists.

That kind of administrative delay translates locally into hiring freezes, paused programming, reduced visibility, and a creeping uncertainty about the future; none of which shows up in the official narrative that all Engines are still funded and moving ahead.

But do delayed continuation funding, reduced yearly allocations and the uncertainty about their financial future lead to leadership turnover, reduced programming and partner disengagement?

Yes. They certainly do.

This is not an NSF issue. The National Science Foundation and their partners are fighting fiercely to keep this program alive and going.

It's a systemic issue.

Over the last few months, I have talked to ecosystem builders who have lost their roles and it got me thinking: In times up upheaval and crisis, superfluous positions may get eliminated, but we always make sure that essential workers remain.

So how come that - in times of economic instability and federal chaos - ecosystem builders lose their jobs when they are, in fact, essential workers?

I'm exploring this question in today's issue and would love to hear your experiences and observations from the field! Simply hit "reply" to this email.

Field Notes: The Struggle for Legitimacy

Why is it that ecosystem builders who build critical infrastructure in entrepreneurial ecosystems still struggle for legitimacy?

In my newest blog post, I argue that it's not because the field lacks value or maturity. It struggles because the systems evaluating it were not designed to recognize the kind of work it requires. The result is a field that serves as essential civic infrastructure in many communities, but remains invisible to institutions and the policy makers that (should) help fund it.

In "The Struggle for Legitimacy", I outline five reasons for this gap and share some suggestions how we - ecosystem builders and policy makers - can do to help close it.

Curated Resource: Rural Entrepreneurship Index

I came across this tool from the Center on Rural Innovation and have not had a chance to explore it. But I feel like many of you could use it:

"Every rural community is on an entrepreneurial journey, but the path looks different in each place. What does entrepreneurship look like in your community?
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The 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅 allows you to explore where your community stands today and where opportunity may lie ahead.
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By aggregating 11 indicators into a single, interactive map, the Index moves us from intuition to insight, giving rural leaders and ecosystem builders the data needed to prioritize strategy, attract capital, and strengthen long-term resilience."

Bookish

What I've been reading:

• ​Kin, Tayari Jones. Ever since An American Marriage I was looking forward to Tayari Jones' next book and Kin did not disappoint. Set in the South in the 1960s it explores what makes family and how we'll go to protect it.
• ​The Correspondent, Virginia Evans. It's been all the hype and I'm - as per usual - a few weeks behind the cool kids in reading and loving this book. It's written in the format of letters and emails - correspondence - which is a charming format to piece together a narrative from diverse angles.

Looking for your next read?

Shen-Anika-ns: Resources for ecosystem builders on the job hunt

Given everything we talked about, here are some resources for those of you navigating the job market right now:

1. ​How one US ecosystem builder is approaching the job market (and his career): A guest blog post by Charlton Cunningham
2. ​The Ecosystem Builder Job Market — What They're Not Telling You: Another excellent newsletter from my friend Dr. Amy Beaird at Ecosystem Edge.
3. ​ESHIP Alliance's Opportunity Board (you may have to sign up for full access but it's currently free!)

If you've been reading Impact Curator for a while, you've watched me circle the same set of questions from different angles: who does the work and why, who benefits from it, who funds it, and what happens when they don't.

I've been circling for a reason (cue dramatic drum roll)!

Over the coming months, I'm excited to take this conversation further (something new is coming in May!), and you'll be the first ones to know. Stay tuned!

I'll be back in two weeks!

In camaraderie,

Anika

P.S. Missed my last newsletter? Check out the previous issues of Impact Curator.