The Soil Institute began on March 28th, 2025, with a single conviction:
that the world doesn’t need more top-down charity — it needs bottom-up restoration.
We exist to reconnect people with the things that truly sustain life: food, water, shelter, health, & truth.
Founded by Yousef A. BinAgeil in Tulsa, Oklahoma, The Soil Institute is a nonprofit that builds sustainable systems. We partner with communities to build real systems people can own — like grocery stores, clean water access, modular shelters, mobile clinics, and farmer networks.
Our work creates local ecosystems and circular economies that keep resources flowing within the community — not out of it. Everything we build is rooted in shared stewardship — created with, for, and alongside the people it serves. While The Soil Institute retains structural ownership to ensure long-term sustainability, communities help co-design, co-operate, and lead these initiatives as trusted partners. It’s not charity — it’s shared responsibility, pride, and purpose.
Our name says it all:
S.O.I.L. = Serving Our Inner Light
Because real progress starts within — and grows outward.
We’re not here to simply talk about change. We design it, build it, and plant it into communities around the world. From food and water to housing and healing, we’re transforming the systems that shape daily life — and we’re doing it in partnership with the people most impacted.
Across every culture & era, soil has always meant life.
At The Soil Institute, we turn that truth into action —
restoring life to people, communities, and the planet.
We’re not just a movement.
We’re a living blueprint for what the future of justice, sustainability, and humanity can truly look like.
If you believe in this mission, you belong here!
Who we are
Serving Our Inner Light.
5 Global Initiatives, 5 Years, One Future!
The Soil Institute began with a single conviction: that At the root of every solution we plant are five core principles. These are the ethical, spiritual, and practical foundations of everything we do.
Human Dignity
We believe every soul is sacred. Innovation must elevate human life — not reduce or replace it.
Ecological Stewardship
We are made from the soil — and to it we return. Our work restores ecosystems, not just economies.
Ethical Innovation
We pursue science that aligns with moral responsibility, not profit alone. Every solution must serve a deeper purpose.
Truth & Justice
We expose injustice, stand with the oppressed, and build systems rooted in prophetic ethics and sacred truth.
Community-Rooted Implementation
We co-create with, not for, the people. Our ideas are tested on the ground and grown in local hands.
The Soil We Stand On
With the People. For the Planet. For Generations to Come
We partner with:
Underserved and frontline communities
Indigenous and land-based peoples
Farmers, organizers, and educators
Governments, nonprofits, and academic institutions
Global citizens ready to root their power in justice
Whether you’re in a remote village, a city block, or a boardroom — if you believe in restoring what gives life, you are part of this movement.
Built on Trust and Transparency
The Soil Institute is a nonprofit organization registered in the state of Oklahoma. We are currently pursuing federal 501(c)(3) status (pending) to expand our partnerships, increase funding opportunities, and strengthen our public trust.
Our governance is rooted in ethical leadership, financial transparency, and long-term sustainability — ensuring every action we take aligns with our mission to serve people and planet.
Our Mission
At the core of everything we do is one unshakable purpose:
To build real solutions that restore what gives life — from the soil beneath our feet to the dignity within every human being.
We work directly with communities to repair systems around food, water, housing, health, and technology — with justice, compassion, and service at the root.
“True change doesn’t trickle down. It rises from the soil — from the people, the land, and the light within.”
—The Soil Institute
Our Vision
We envision a world where systems are rebuilt from the ground up— with wisdom, care and truth.
A world where innovation heals, not harms. Where communities lead, and every person lives with dignity and purpose. This is the future we are shaping.
“We don’t wait for permission to imagine a better world — we plant it, one system at a time.”
— Yousef, Founder of The Soil Institute
Why We’re Not Meant to Last
A Mission With an Expiration Date
The Soil Institute was never meant to last.
Because the problems we’re solving shouldn’t either.
We’re not building a nonprofit to exist for generations.
We’re building solutions that make our existence obsolete.
Too many organizations stay open by keeping problems alive.
But we measure success by what we can walk away from — not what we cling to.
So here’s our promise:
Within the next 5 years, The Soil Institute will close its doors.
Not in failure — but in fulfillment.
By then, the systems we’ve planted — will be fully rooted in the hands of the people.
Owned by them. Run by them. Sustained by them.
We won’t be needed anymore.
And that’s the point.
This is our purpose:
To build a future where the work outlives the nonprofit.
Because true change doesn’t require a forever institution.
It requires one bold generation willing to say:
It ends with us.
If you believe problems should be solved — not recycled —
you’re in the right place.
Join the Board: Help Shape a 7-Generation Future
Are You Ready to Lead the Mission of a Lifetime?
At The Soil Institute, we are not building temporary programs.
We’re building living legacies that will serve humanity’s most essential needs — for generations to come.
And we’re looking for visionary volunteers & board members to help lead the way.
Why Join the Board?
The Soil Institute is on a 5-year mission to launch and seed 5 permanent solutions to:
Food Sovereignty
Clean Water Access
Dignified Shelter
Community Healing
Belonging
By 2030, we will close our doors — and leave behind blueprints that can thrive without us.
This is legacy work, not charity.
We need leaders who understand the urgency of now and the weight of the future.
Who We're Looking For
We’re inviting a diverse, multi-sector group of leaders who bring:
Deep community ties and lived experience
Professional expertise (finance, policy, health, education, agriculture, sustainability, housing, or tech)
Passion for Indigenous values, global justice, and systemic change
A willingness to roll up their sleeves and lead with integrity
We especially welcome:
Tribal citizens and elders
Young changemakers
Civic leaders
Visionary builders
What to Expect
Weekly & quarterly meetings (virtual or in person)
Advisory support for one of our 5 initiatives
Ambassadorship & strategic guidance
5-year commitment (aligned with our mission timeline)
This is not a ceremonial board — it’s an active seat at a living table.
Ready to Join the Mission — Before It Ends for Good??
Be part of something deeper. Whether you're a visionary partner, a grassroots volunteer, or someone with a heart for justice & Innovation — there's a place for you here. Let’s regrow the future, together.
Ready to Take a Seat?
This is your chance to co-create something that lasts for 7 generations.
📝 Apply to Join the Board
(or email us directly at: join@thesoilinstitute.org)