Charting a course through uncertainty
I'm Tom Campbell Watson. I work with social purpose organisations — charities, social enterprises, B Corps, community businesses, and mission-driven public bodies — helping them think clearly about strategy, technology, data architecture, and resilience.
I build things as well as advise on them. I believe the best way to understand a problem is to make something that tries to solve it. That's why I've built open tools and data infrastructure alongside my consulting work — each one born from a real need I kept seeing.
I work in the open wherever I can. Frameworks are shared under Creative Commons. Data is open by default. Tools are built for use. Thinking happens in public on my blog.
Alongside The Good Ship, I previously co-founded Data for Action in 2023 — exploring what infrastructure the social purpose sector really needed. We embraced uncertainty over false certainty, tested ideas in the open, and built tools that outlasted the partnership. Data for Action ended in January 2026; the work continues here, and through the open tools built during that time.
Organisations I've worked with
- Lloyds Bank Foundation
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- ClientEarth
- Social Tech Trust
- Power to Change
- NPC
- Wildlife Trusts
- NHS England
- NCSC
- Cabinet Office
- MHCLG
Navigating complexity, together
Six ways I work with organisations — always tailored, never off-the-shelf.
AI & Technology Strategy
Responsible AI adoption, digital sovereignty, and helping organisations think strategically about technology — not just chase the latest trend.
Data Strategy, Architecture & Design
Data strategy, data architecture, storytelling, and visualisation. From minimum viable standards to full data infrastructure — helping organisations see clearly and share openly.
Organisational Resilience
Frameworks, assessment, and strategic planning for navigating uncertainty. Purpose, money, people — nine principles for staying flexible.
Product & Team Development
Product management, facilitation, and team development. Helping teams ship better work through clearer priorities, participatory methods, and practical governance.
Learning Partnerships & Coaching
One-to-one development, team learning, and long-term advisory relationships. A steady light to navigate by.
Open Infrastructure
Building shared digital tools for the sector. Not just talking about what's needed — actually making it.
Tools born from real problems
Open digital tools for social purpose organisations — each one built because I kept seeing the same need.
TechFreedom
A programme helping social purpose organisations take control of their technology. Details soon.
techfreedom.eu Newly launchedGlade
A governance platform that treats every decision as a seed. Watch your organisation's institutional memory grow — traceable, reviewable, alive.
ourglade.app Newly launchedImpact Path
Build your impact strategy through guided conversation, not blank templates. For charities and social purpose organisations.
impact-path.vercel.app Newly launchedSwells
A platform for observations, signals, and reflections. Helping people and organisations sense what's emerging — before it becomes obvious.
swells.app Newly launchedDrift
Create intelligent forms that adapt to every respondent. An experience designed to feel as natural as conversation.
driftforms.app Newly launchedBearing
Chart your course to the right AI model. A discovery and comparison tool to help you find the model that fits your need.
findbearing.org Working draftOpen Org
A data standard for self-sovereign organisational profiles, living strategies and published ideas. Funders discover, organisations stay in control.
read the standardFlowlance
AI-powered finance, project and proposal management for freelancers. Keep the cash flowing.
flowlance.iollmstxt.social
AI-readable documentation for social purpose organisations. Be seen by AI, on your own terms.
llmstxt.socialOpen Recommendations
Upload, analyse and track reports across the social purpose sector. Making recommendations actionable.
openrecs.comStackmap
A free, open-source tool to help organisations document their tech infrastructure — systems, costs, risks and responsibilities.
stackmap.orgThe List
UK funding changes. By fundraisers, for fundraisers. Built with Jo Jeffery.
the-list.ukMap My Patch
Combine maps and questions to understand your neighbourhoods. Place-based insight made simple.
mapmypatch.co.ukQuestions for Action
Prioritise your most important questions, individually or collaboratively. Focus on what matters most.
questionsforaction.comFrameworks & facilitation tools
Practical tools and thinking, shared under Creative Commons. Use them, adapt them, pass them on.
Garden of Ideas
A facilitation device using organic metaphors. Plant, compost, save seeds.
Theory of Change — Demystified
Simple metaphors (journey, ripple, seed) to make theory of change accessible.
Principles of Good Data
A framework for thinking about data in social purpose organisations.
Organisational Resilience Toolkit
Purpose, money, people — nine principles for navigating uncertainty.
Collaboration Spectrum
From networking to integrating — mapping how organisations work together.
Simple Facilitation Tools for Teams
Practical exercises and methods for running better meetings and workshops.
Five Modes of Thinking
Sense, imagine, design, learn, act — five modes to move between, not linear steps.
Modes of Problem Solving
From “what’s the real problem?” through options to action — with learning throughout.
All shared under Creative Commons CC BY-NC licensing
Writing
I write openly about strategy, technology, resilience, and what I'm learning. It's how I think.
Sponsor The Good Ship
Most of what we build is open and freely shared. Sponsorship keeps the lights on and the tools open — if our work is useful to you or your organisation, you can help sustain it.
Let's talk
Whether you have a clear brief or just a question forming — I'd love to hear from you. No pitch decks, no hard sell. Just a conversation about what you need.