The Communities of the Future (COTF) is an evolving network of people and organizations throughout the U.S. and other countries that are working in collaboration to develop new concepts of governance, economic development, and education/learning for a fast-paced, interconnected, and increasingly complex society.

COTF distinguishes the ideas of reforming change and transformational change. Most of today's work in local communities is based on making existing ideas and present assumptions more efficient - reforming change. COTF emphasizes community research and development to create new assumptions, concepts, methods and techniques - transformational change.