About the Center

Hazel gifted her home in St. Augustine, Florida, to continue the work she and her husband, Alan Kay, began in 1990.  The Hazel Henderson Center was established for creative minds to continue to share groundbreaking concepts and effect change. 

The Center is an institution that celebrates and embodies Hazel’s spirit and contributions while advancing knowledge, activism, and community for an ethical and green economy for future generations. 

We welcome changemakers focused on integrative solutions for environmental protection, social entrepreneurship, and ethical governance. This includes student and scholar access, mentoring, retreats and meetings, and advancing the Ethical Markets Media portfolio of assets. 

How you can engage with the Center:

  1. Apply to participate in our Innovative Studies programs

  2. Apply to become a Founding Program Partner

  3. Apply to host a local gathering

  4. Apply to become a visiting resident

  5. Apply to visit the library

  6. Sign up for the Ethical Markets Media weekly newsletter

Upholding Hazel Henderson's legacy, these program areas emphasize integrating ethical practices into the economy, recognizing the inextricable link between humanity and the environment. By promoting innovative ideas and solutions, we aim to restore balance to our world.

A key aspect of these program areas is their commitment to being a physical space, fostering deep connections with each other and nature. This approach ensures that sustainability, innovation, and ethical practices are lived experiences, enhancing collaborative learning and personal growth.

Operating Principles

The Hazel Henderson Center operates at the intersection of intellectual leadership, ethical finance, and systems change. Grounded in Hazel Henderson’s legacy, the Center is committed to advancing independent, rigorous thinking in service of a just and regenerative global economy.

These principles establish how the Center governs, operates, and safeguards its mission.

These principles establish the framework through which all programs, partnerships, and collaborations are evaluated and selected.

Mission Integrity & Intellectual Leadership

We advance independent, systems-based thinking across economics, finance, climate, and equity.

  • Uphold intellectual rigor and interdisciplinary inquiry

  • Ensure programs contribute to real-world progress

  • Convene leading thinkers, practitioners, and emerging leaders

Governance & Accountability

We operate with strong governance and clear fiduciary oversight.

  • Board-led strategic direction and accountability

  • Adherence to nonprofit best practices (duty of care, loyalty, obedience)

  • Conflict-of-interest and independence safeguards

Financial Stewardship

We maintain transparency, independence, and sustainability in all funding.

  • Diversified funding sources; no undue influence from any single funder

  • Clear distinction between restricted and unrestricted funds

  • Audit-ready financial management and reporting

Operational Efficiency

We prioritize disciplined, high-impact operations.

  • Lean structure with clearly defined roles

  • Strategic use of partnerships and in-kind support

  • Ongoing evaluation of effectiveness and impact

Program Excellence & Selectivity

We curate programming that is rigorous, focused, and outcome-oriented.

  • Selective, expert-driven programs

  • Program Committee oversight and review

  • Integration of policy, finance, science, and education.

Investment & Advisory Integrity

We uphold clear boundaries and ethical standards in advisory work.

  • Alignment with principles of sustainable and ethical finance

  • Separation between education, advice, and endorsement

  • Avoidance of real or perceived conflicts of interest

Community & Place-Based Stewardship

We steward the Center as a living, immersive environment.

  • Support residents, collaborators, and participants

  • Integrate residential, educational, and convening functions

  • Maintain clear expectations for use of the space

Ecological Design Goals

We reflect regenerative principles in both form and practice.

  • Integrate permaculture and ecological design in the management of the Center

  • Use the site as a demonstration of sustainability in action

Partnerships & Networked Impact

We operate as part of a broader ecosystem while preserving independence.

  • Build mission-aligned partnerships

  • Clearly define roles: partners, funders, collaborators

  • Expand impact without compromising integrity

Brand Stewardship & Legacy

We protect and advance Hazel Henderson’s legacy.

  • Uphold high standards in all uses of the name and materials

  • Align all activities with the Center’s mission and values

  • Maintain clear guidelines for co-branded and external activities

In Practice

These principles ensure that the Center operates with rigor, transparency, and independence—while supporting a dynamic, collaborative platform for advancing the ethical and regenerative economy.

Governance Stewardship Reference

The Center’s governance, institutional structure, and participation framework are detailed in its Governance & Stewardship document, which operates in alignment with these Operating Principles.

Governance and Stewardship

The Hazel Henderson Center is an independent nonprofit organization founded to advance rigorous, systems-based thinking in service of a just and regenerative global economy and steward the intellectual legacy of Hazel Henderson.

The Center operates in alignment with its Operating Principles, which define standards for governance, program selection, and institutional integrity as well as the Program & Partner Selection Criteria.

Institutional Structure

The Hazel Henderson Center was incorporated in 2025 as a Florida nonprofit corporation and is pursuing 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

The Center was founded and is currently hosted by Ethical Markets Media, LLC (EMM), established by Hazel Henderson and Alan Kay in 2003.

The Center operates from 10 Carrera Street in St. Augustine—Hazel Henderson’s former home, library, and convening space—now dedicated to long-term nonprofit stewardship.

Upon completion of key milestones, the property is expected to be transferred to the Center to support its long-term institutional stability.

Board Governance & Fiduciary Responsibility

The Center is governed by a founding Board of Directors with expertise in nonprofit management, institutional leadership, social entrepreneurship, publishing, accounting, and education.

The Board is responsible for:

  • Strategic direction and oversight

  • Fiduciary accountability and regulatory compliance

  • Safeguarding mission integrity and institutional independence

This governance structure ensures disciplined oversight, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

Curated Collective Model

The Center operates as a curated, invitation-based collective, convening a select network of contributors, collaborators, and institutional partners.

Participation is determined through defined programmatic and editorial criteria and reflects alignment with the Center’s mission and standards.

Participation in the Center’s activities:

  • Does not confer governance, membership, or ownership rights

  • Does not create partnership, joint venture, or agency relationships

All intellectual property rights are retained by original creators unless otherwise specified in written agreement. Any use or publication of materials by the Center is:

  • License-based

  • Properly attributed

  • Governed by agreed terms

The Center maintains final editorial discretion over all programs and public-facingmaterials to ensure intellectual rigor, integrity, and alignment with mission.

Operating Model

The Center functions as a selective convening hub integrating programs, partnerships, and place-based experiences.

  • The Center’s leadership ensures all activities align with programmatic priorities and standards.

    • Partners may develop or host programs aligned with the Center’s mission

    • Collaboration structures are defined on a case-by-case basis

    • Program Partners are responsible for organizing their meetings which includes collecting any funds from their participants and all communications with their meeting participants.

    • Hosting arrangements with the Center are governed by defined use terms

    • The Center provides coordination support for logistics, including space use and accommodations

    • The Hazel Henderson Center has a welcoming team that is committed to developing community amongst and between its partners.

    This model enables flexibility while maintaining clear roles, standards, and institutional oversight.

Stewardship & Long-Term Vision

The Center is committed to:

  • Maintaining independence and mission alignment

  • Operating as a long-term convening hub for interdisciplinary leadership

  • Stewarding Hazel Henderson’s intellectual and institutional legacy

Through disciplined governance and curated collaboration, the Center advances a platform where ideas, partnerships, and leadership develop with clarity, rigor, and integrity.

In Practice

These principles ensure that the Center operates with rigor, transparency, and independence—while supporting a dynamic, collaborative platform for advancing the ethical and regenerative economy.

Governance & Stewardship Reference

The Center’s governance, institutional structure, and participation framework are detailed in its Governance & Stewardship document, which operates in alignment with these Operating Principles.