Critical systems mapping in Canada’s social economy: tracing funding pathways and adaptive capacity for social purpose organizations

Purpose This paper aims to investigate Canada’s social finance ecosystem through participatory system mapping, offering practice-oriented insights. It explores how ecosystem actors navigate complexity, mobilize resources and contribute to systemic adaptation – yielding lessons relevant to social economies in transition globally. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in systems thinking and complexity theory, this study integrates participatory and interpretive mapping techniques. Data sources include administrative records from the Investment Readiness Program (IRP), stakeholder engagements and publicly available policy materials. A suite of modular “mini-maps” traces financial and knowledge flows, institutional configurations and relational dynamics to reveal systemic leverage points. Findings The mapping process generated a replicable diagnostic framework that informed both program learning and broader ecosystem reflection. It surfaced role ambiguities, relational gaps and emergent alignments. Beyond its role as a funding mechanism, the IRP operated as a transitional catalyst – enhancing adaptive capacity, fostering cross-sector coordination and strengthening ecosystem resilience. Research limitations/implications While grounded in the Canadian context, findings have wider relevance for jurisdictions experimenting with inclusive finance architectures. However, emergent dynamics among informal or less-visible actors may be underrepresented in program-linked data. Practical implications The mapping tools and framing questions support strategic coordination, ethical decision-making and adaptive governance in complex funding systems – offering actionable insights for policymakers, funders and social purpose organizations. Originality/value This study introduces an original, systems-based methodology for mapping social finance ecosystems in real time. It contributes to international debates on participatory governance, institutional learning and socially just economic transition.