Berlin, Germany
2015
Globally
Purpose Foundation strives to contribute to an economy fit for the 21st century, an economy that serves people, society, and the planet. With our non-profit activities, we aim to realise the full potential of steward-ownership and make it accessible for everyone around the world.
The Purpose Foundation is part of the broader Purpose Network that spreads the word about steward-ownership, pursues activities in steward-ownership aligned financing or directly helps companies to transition. Our role as the Purpose Foundation is to build the field and act in service of the whole ecosystem and broader public – by identifying the most effective leverage-points to bring the concept to the next levels: at universities, in the public, amongst stakeholders. Today, the idea is already better known and easier to implement than a few years ago. But still, there’s quite a way to go, and we are passionate about operating right at the heart of a globally growing steward-ownership movement.
Although some forerunners like Bosch, Zeiss, Patagonia, Einhorn or Ecosiahave found ways to become steward-owned, the path towards steward-ownership is still hilly. As a result, there are not enough steward-owned companies out there to fully realize its potential – due to a lack of information and narratives, the complexity of its legal implementation, and a lack of aligned capital.
Activities
- Knowlegde Sharing: We gather information, knowledge and experiences around steward-ownership, create open content, make it accessible online and distribute it.
- Education & Universities: We bring steward-ownership to universities to widen the narrative around ownership and reach the decision-makers of tomorrow.
- Groundwork & Building Bridges: We refine and safeguard the definition & narratives around steward-ownership, bring it into public discourse & connect it with other spheres & topics.
- Support for Research: We conduct research and inspire academics to build up the knowledge base around steward-ownership.
- Global Movement: We support organizations multiplying the concept of steward-ownership in specific regions or sectors with our knowledge and experience.
- Legal Infrastructure: We reduce the legal costs of becoming steward-owned by providing legal solutions as well as educating the legal support system.
- Network: We bring together the diverse actors around steward-ownership to foster a connected, inclusive and effective movement.
- Aligned Financing: We support the shift of more investment capital into steward-ownership by inspiring and enabling relevant actors.
We build, support, and hold the emerging steward-ownership movement by inspiring and enabling relevant actors on their path to steward-ownership. All our activities address the three main hurdles on the way to steward-ownership. We thereby make steward-ownership more easily accessible for everyone and realize its potential for an economy fit for the 21st century.
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