Desperately seeking niches: Grassroots innovations and niche development in the community currency field

► Niche theories of innovation diffusion are applied in a civil society context. ► International growth of community currencies movement is described. ► Niche analysis shows some vital niche-building activities in its development. ► But field is also fragmenting, shows little formal learning, and lacks coherence. ► Characteristics of grassroots innovations preclude some niche-building processes.