Growing Steward Ownership Locally
Meet the field builders from around the world
The broader steward-ownership ecosystem is shaped by a wide range of actors – from entrepreneurs and investors to researchers and policymakers – all contributing in different ways. Within this ecosystem, certain organisations have made steward-ownership their dedicated focus. Through their activities, they build and nurture the field in specific regions, making steward-ownership more visible and accessible. The map shows the location of each organisation (pin) as well as the area of activity (shown in brackets).
Building a connected global field for steward ownership
Steward ownership is a deeply human idea that transcends cultures, regions, sectors, and jurisdictions. However, its adoption depends on local translation into narratives, legal structures, and financial ecosystems.
Today, key structural challenges remain around awareness and understanding of steward ownership, viable legal frameworks, and access to aligned capital – challenges that cannot be addressed at a global level alone.
Enter: The global field building champions.
While we, the Purpose Foundation, took over the role to "steward" the global movement of steward ownership, one key pillar of our work is to nurture a network of independent field builders who anchor and develop steward ownership in their countries and local contexts.
Together, we form a highly aligned, loosely structured network built on shared principles and continuous exchange.
We believe this network is essential for steward ownership to grow in healthy, diverse, and context-sensitive ways, not driven by one central actor, but shaped by strong local initiatives connected through trust and learning.
Looking for a contact person in your region?
Check below how to become a field builder.
You want to bring steward ownership to life locally?
Joining the field builder network starts with an initial conversation with Annika from the Purpose Foundation, followed by a mutual learning phase. In this phase, you get access to core materials and are invited into a joint working project to explore steward ownership opportunities and implementation pathways in your country or region. You are also invited to join learning sessions with the other field builders to get a feel for the network. Throughout this process, we explore our alignment on values, understanding of steward-ownership principles, organizational readiness, and relational fit with the wider network. If there is mutual interest to continue, the partnership is formalized through a joint agreement, followed by ongoing collaboration, annual reflections, and participation in the wider field builder network, including invitations to network exchanges and working groups.
As part of the Purpose Group’s international work, we aim to provide coherence, visibility, and orientation for steward ownership globally while working in close collaboration with regional field builders. You can expect us to steward the global narrative and core materials, connect actors across regions, and offer access to shared learning, networks, and incoming requests. At the same time, we remain committed to a highly collaborative, non-central role – supporting your work locally, learning continuously with you, and strengthening the ecosystem through mutual exchange.