Time Banks

Time Banking - Civic Feature
A nonprofit dedicated to time-based community exchange, creating a currency of caring across the globe.
TimeBanks logo
Overview

Founded by Dr. Edgar Cahn, TimeBanks.Org offers a way to restore community by exchanging services using time as currency. An hour of service earns one Time Credit, which can be spent on services from others in the network. It's a model that uplifts dignity, mutual respect, and belonging.

Action Center
Why It Matters

TimeBanking shifts the narrative of value from money to meaning. By creating economies rooted in reciprocity and interdependence, TimeBanks foster deeper social ties and make visible the invisible work of caregiving, mentoring, and community support. It’s a powerful counterbalance to isolation and systemic inequity.

Time Banking is reimagining how we value time, trust, and each other—one hour at a time.
Alignment with The Change Lab

TimeBanks.Org aligns with The Change Lab’s mission to foster civic connection and systemic transformation. It represents a grassroots model of collective empowerment—grounded in equity, belonging, and shared purpose. The emphasis on mutual aid and community voice resonates across multiple Change Lab pathways.

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Quick Facts
Founded: 1995
Founder: Dr. Edgar Cahn
Headquarters: Washington, DC
Keywords: TimeBanking, Mutual Aid, Volunteerism, Community Voice, Civic Exchange, Reciprocity, Alternative Economy, Trust Building, Service Exchange, Non-Monetary Value, Belonging & Equity, Civic Empowerment, Collective Action, Social Cohesion, Care Work, Dr. Edgar Cahn, Informed Engagement, Systems Change, Community Infrastructure, Grassroots Innovation
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