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Steward Ownership Aligned Financing (SOAF)
Learning about steward ownership has two core sides: Not only what it means for companies but also what it means for financing. Because steward ownership requires a special quality of capital, understanding investment structures and available capital is central to our research work. Here you'll find our knowledge on the topic through different lenses, 100% free to explore.
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Steward ownership aligned financing can most commonly be learned about through two perspectives. Choose what suits you best:
A company lens
How have companies created financing structures that protect their independence while also receiving the external capital needed for the company's next stage? Learn about the company's side of financing through case studies, interviews and a dedicated course.
An investment lens
What are the prerequisites of providing aligned financing, which motivations have we come across in our work and what can we learn from forerunners? Learn about the investment side of aligned financing through case studies, interviews and videos.
The idea behind steward ownership aligned financing
There are many situations in which a steward-owned company may need external capital, whether to fund an early-stage start-up, finance a growth phase, or enable a transition of ownership. In steward ownership, this financing is structured so that the company remains independent and mission-oriented: control can never be bought, and the company never becomes an object of speculation.
Because this departs from most conventional investments, many people want to understand how investing in a steward-owned company, or in a way aligned with steward ownership, actually works. We have analysed a range of successful forerunners, from start-ups and SMEs to ownership transitions, that applied the logic of steward-ownership-aligned financing. Although they used different financing mechanisms (often drawing on tools that already exist), they all had one thing in common: investors became financing partners rather than automatic co-owners, while still being recognised for their vital and enabling role.
Steward Ownership Aligned Financing Course
To make our knowledge on steward ownership aligned financing (SOAF) more accessible, we have created a dedicated comprehensive course on the topic. The knowledge is structured in three thematic blocks with different chapters: from the basics to in-depth examples of financing structures. It's a free and interactive online course that you can do at your own pace.
Want to refresh the steward ownership basics?
If you don't yet want to dive deep into SOAF, these are good starting points where the key concepts are summarised.
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