Learn about Steward Ownership
Free learning materials, news and developments worldwide: This is your knowledge hub on steward ownership, hosted by the charitable Purpose Foundation and based on the work of many.
What you'll find here
Hey there! We are so excited you found your way to the global knowledge hub for steward ownership. We, the charitable Purpose Foundation, created this website as a dedicated place to learn about steward ownership from different angles: Through the eyes of entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers, advisors, local field builders or the simply curious.
All materials you find here are open content, free of charge and based on the knowledge of many practitioners and innovators from across the ecosystem. This is what our nonprofit work is for: making steward ownership more known, understandable and tangible as an ownership form that companies can choose and investors can enable. Through our work, we want to leverage the positive power of entrepreneurship for people, planet and society.
Happy exploring,
Your Purpose Foundation Team
Ways to learn
One idea, many paths: Choose what suits you best
Why steward ownership matters
What is steward ownership?
Steward ownership offers an alternative to conventional ownership models. It ensures that companies remain independent and mission-driven by enshrining two core principles in a legally binding way:
Purpose orientation
Profits are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. They serve the company’s mission and development or can be used to fund charitable activities. The value created within the company cannot be extracted by the company owners for their personal benefit.
Self-determination
The company cannot become an object of speculation but remains self-determined and independent in the long term. The steering wheel always remains in the hands of people who are connected to the company and its mission.
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Your ways to engage with steward ownership
Steward ownership matters from different perspectives. Here are some common ones for you to explore.
Planning a company's next chapter
Succession, protecting your mission, or making sure profits keep serving the purpose – learn how steward ownership can offer structural answers.
Structuring aligned capital or investments
Building or investing in steward-owned companies – learn about financing models for mission-oriented businesses.
Explore the ecosystem
Companies, investors, innovators, advisors, researchers and more – steward ownership is carried by a global ecosystem. Learn about players in your region and field.
Learn from real cases: steward-owned companies
The clearest way to understand steward ownership is to see how real companies bring it to life. Four stories to start with:
Over 100 years – Zeiss is one of the world's oldest steward ownership examples.
Ecosia is structured to prevent acquisition and keep the search engine's mission-orientation irreversible.
Patagonia transferred ownership to a trust to handle succession without selling the company or passing it on through inheritance.
The story of BuurtzorgT is pioneering steward ownership in healthcare, providing a model to prioritize patient care over profit.
Get to know the global ecosystem
Steward ownership is gaining momentum worldwide – from bakeries in Portland to banks in Santiago de Chile to tech firms in Berlin. Wherever you are, chances are there's already a local organisation working to make steward ownership accessible in your region. They all shared their knowledge with us so we can bring it to you for free on this side. Together, we carry the concept forward.
Highlights of the SO:25
To get a sense of steward ownership and the ecosystem, who's part of it and the magic behind it, watch the highlight video of the SO:25 – the global steward ownership conference 2025.
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Have questions? Join our open call.
Almost every week, the Purpose Foundation hosts a free, open session on steward ownership. We introduce the basics, walk through real-world examples, and answer questions from participants. There's no registration fee and no prerequisites and everyone is welcome. It's an easy way to learn about the topic, hear the questions others are asking, and see how steward ownership works in practice.
Join the next open call