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Steward Ownership in Companies
Learn how companies around the world are using steward ownership to stay independent and purpose-driven – now, and long after the owners moved on. The learning paths you find on this page collect free educational resources on steward ownership in companies: stories, tools, and learning journeys.
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Entrepreneurs come to steward ownership from many different starting points or reason. These are some of the most common ones.
Succession
Mission & independence
Coherent ownership model
Interested in learning about steward ownership aligned financing?
The core idea of steward ownership
Many entrepreneurs build something they care about deeply. They prioritise mission and purpose of their enterprise over quick profits. But the predominant conventional ownership structures, where money equals power, rarely reflect that. They can, on the contrary, push towards exits, dilute control, invite outside pressure. And thus could put everything you've built at risk.
Steward ownership is a different kind of answer to the ownership question. It legally separates economic rights from control rights, so that the essence of the company stays protected. Companies have used this model for decades – famous examples include Patagonia, Bosch, and Novo Nordisk.
Why entrepreneurs turn to steward ownership
Three learning paths, build on the most common reasons:
Wanting to pass the company on to the right people and keep its soul
Succession isn't just about finding someone to run the business. It's about whether your values, your culture, and the company’s mission survive the transition. Steward ownership offers a path.
Investors, growth, new people – Wanting to stay true to the companies‘ soul
Mission-orientation and independence are easy to lose gradually. Steward ownership makes them legally binding – so a company's mission can't just be voted away.
Looking for an ownership model that fits to the values
Many companies adopt a conventional ownership model without questioning this choice. Steward ownership invites entrepreneurs to step back, helping them to find an ownership structure that reflects their values and believes about entrepreneurship.
We’re working on an exciting project to launch a database of steward-owned companies, so everyone can get a good picture of the companies around the world at a glance.
If you already want to start learning about steward-owned companies, feel free to check out our case studies.
Not sure where to start learning?
Not everyone comes with clear learning goals. Sometimes it starts with a feeling that there are more perspectives, options and paths out there in the world than the ones, we usually stumble across. These are good places to start learning about (steward) ownership:
Have questions? Join our open call.
Almost every week, we, 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