Steward-Ownership

The SO:25 conference for steward-ownership revolves all around the topic of ownership and – more specifically – steward-ownership. Steward-ownership addresses the core of a company – its operating system: corporate ownership. It (re)shifts the focus towards the purpose and mission of the company and secures its independence in the long run.

In short: With steward-ownership, assets and control remain with the company in the long term.

This is based on two key principles:

Purpose Orientation

Profits are always means to a purpose, not a goal in themselves. Value created in the company cannot be extracted by the shareholders. Profits are reinvested, donated or used to cover capital costs.

Self-Determination

Control lies with people who are closely connected to the company: stewards, not absentee owners. It cannot be inherited, bought, or become an object of speculation – but is passed on in trust.

Steward-ownership brings together start-ups, medium-sized businesses and large corporations. It combines modern with traditional entrepreneurship, sustainability with profitable business. On the one hand, steward-ownership is a proven ownership model that has been in place for many decades and implemented by traditional large and medium-sized businesses such as Bosch, Victorinox, Novo Nordisk and Zeiss. On the other hand, it presents an innovative option for entrepreneurs and investors worldwide. It allows start-ups to safeguard their purpose orientation and enables medium-sized businesses and Hidden Champions to remain independent and set up succession independent of family affiliation or acquisition power.

The Purpose Stiftung gGmbH (Purpose Foundation) was established in 2015 with the goal to inform about steward-ownership and to facilitate its implementation worldwide. As a non-profit, the Purpose Foundation focuses on education and research. Knowledge generated through the practice and experience of and with steward-ownership is made accessible through publications, events, and open-source materials. Its mission: to contribute to an economy that serves people, society and the planet.

The Stiftung Verantwortungseigentum (Foundation for Steward-Ownership), founded in November 2019, connects steward-owned companies in Germany and advocates for a better legal framework for the implementation of steward-ownership. To this end, the foundation is in exchange with six independent legal scholars, who have drafted a bill for a new legal form for steward ownership, and is in direct contact with politicians. The coalition of the new federal government, comprised of social democrats, greens and liberals, has committed itself in its coalition agreement to introduce such a new legal form. In addition to the political work, the foundation promotes education and research as well as information and the exchange of experience on the topic of steward-ownership within the framework of a non-profit cooperation.