7.2 The Growing Steward-Ownership Ecosystem
A global community shaping steward-ownership in practice
The Purpose Foundation works to make steward-ownership globally known and accessible through advocacy, research and education. In this endeavour, we are fortunate to be embedded into a large ecosystem driven by the forerunners who make our work possible. What began with a few pioneering companies has grown into a vibrant web of founders, family businesses, multi-nationals, legislators, students, lawyers, researchers, investors, and many more.
From the very beginning and still today, it took brave social innovators and forerunners, looking for new ways. One thing this ecosystem clearly displays – represented in the stories in this book – is one core: steward-ownership is multifaceted. There are so many perspectives, no single narrative, but instead an array of stories, perspectives and entrepreneurial motivations. We are deeply grateful for so many of these brave forerunners to tell their stories, sharing their learnings and joining our movement.
The steward-owned companies themselves are the true heart of this idea and its most vital actors. Without their courage and willingness to chart new territories – whether establishing a purpose-driven startup, transitioning a purpose-driven business or securing a company succession – steward-ownership would remain only a theory. These founders and leaders, driven by entrepreneurial challenges, wishes and needs, are the ones finding real-world solutions, demonstrating the viability of this model, and inspiring others to follow. You are too many to list, but our biggest thanks go out to all of you, both today and for all your past efforts.
A dedicated group of investors and capital providers, paving the way – like Karma Capital, DOEN, Innovation for Impact, Fair Capital Partners, GLS Bank, RSF Social Finance, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, 2050, Krisos, FA-SE Impact Fonds, Real Future, The Case for Her, Fresh Ventures, Impact Shakers, Donor Impact Invest Fund, Nonprofit Ventures, Viva con Agua, investors of our fund Purpose Evergreen Capital – along with key changemakers like the Innovative Finance Initiative (IFI) and many courageous private individuals and family offices investing in steward-ownership, all help us investigate and pave the way for aligned financing.
We are deeply grateful for the work of our close partners at Purpose Ventures, Purpose Consulting, Purpose Evergreen Capital, GTREU and Foundation for Steward-Ownership, without whose knowledge and experience, our non-profit work would not be possible. We are equally proud to cooperate with changemaker organizations like Doughnut Economic Action Lab (DEAL), Purpose Trust Ownership Network, Wellbeing Economy Alliance, B Lab, Economy for the Common Good, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Zebra Unite, Partners for A New Economy, ClientEarth, Transform Finance, Toniic, NEXUS, Katapult Foundation, Stichting PYM, Eigendom Anders, Türetim Ekonomisi Derneği, and so many more working for change.
We are grateful for every researcher working on the topic, particularly the ones shaping the field like Prof. Dr. Steen Thomsen, Prof. Dr. Anne Sanders, Prof. Dr. Möslein, Prof. Dr. Simon Kempny, Prof. Dr. Colin Mayer, Prof. Dr. Barbara Dauner-Lieb, Dr. Arne von Freeden, Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Veil, Prof. Dr. Christoph Teichmann, Dr. Noah Neitzel, Mark Clayton Hand, Prof. Nien-he Hsieh, and for connections such as the Steward-Ownership Network (StONe) to Harvard Business School and many others deepening the theory and evidence.
Leading lawyers, tax consultants, company leaders and legislators across the aisle who gave their time and expertise to this topic, working on the tough and detailed questions. You know who you are and we are deeply grateful for your support.
Around all of these gather the international changemaker community, our allies and partners from Europe over Asia and Africa to Latin America that are championing steward-ownership in their regions. Together this network of independent organizations collaboratively works to make steward-ownership known and accessible around the world.
This list could go on forever, and that is exactly the point. We can’t possibly name everyone here, and yet every single person and organization is essential. From the students who write their first paper on steward-ownership to the lawyers crafting new legislation, from the early-stage founders to the long-standing family firms, from investors testing new financing models to the consultants guiding transitions – you are the heart of this movement.
Driving steward-ownership together
In the fall of 2025, our international community of allies includes three regional affiliated Purpose Partners which operate under the Purpose brand, as well as nine other regional organizations that we collaborate closely with. We are excited to expand this network even further, building and exploring new relationships with partners around the world.
