The home of
steward-ownership.
Purpose US supports business and community leaders to adopt steward-ownership, having popularized the use of Perpetual Purpose Trusts for mission protection. Purpose US is part of the Purpose international network, founded in 2016 to advance steward-ownership.
What is steward-ownership?
Steward-ownership legally secures two principles:
Self Determination
Power over the company cannot be speculated with but is held by people directly connected to the company’s operation and mission: stewards, not absentee owners.
Profit for Purpose
Profits are means to a purpose, not a goal in itself. Value created in the company cannot be extracted by the shareholders. Profits are reinvested, used to cover capital costs or donated.
Impact
Purpose US has evolved over time. Offering a range of services from education and accelerator programs for new funds, to directly serving community leaders in transitioning their assets to steward-ownership.
Today, Purpose US is the home of resources for steward-ownership and purpose ownership in the United States. Commercial transaction services are now offered via sister organisation Common Trust.
$50M
impact capital mobilized
$3M
legal research conducted
$250M
assets into steward-ownership
American businesses are using steward-ownership to benefit employees
SPOTLIGHT: Clegg Auto
Clegg Auto transitioned to a steward-owned holding company in August 2022. Their group of auto shops shares profit with employees.
Formerly majority-owned by brothers Kevin and Steve Clegg, the group of four auto repair and body shops has long been a standout company in the Utah business community, known for its high-quality customer service.
"We had our best quarter in company history after becoming employee-owned, and this last quarter we nearly doubled those results again, as well as hit our highest-customer satisfaction metrics since the company was founded."
– Kevin Clegg,
Founder & CEO
SPOTLIGHT: Text-Em-All
Text-Em-All, is a mass messaging platform that delivers personalized, informational, and emergency communications.
Their 18-year old SaaS company with 42 employees transitioned to a perpetual trust model in collaboration with Common Trust.
This has enabled succession planning and will aid the business in its goal of being a 100-year company.
“This isn’t just a milestone for us, but a leap forward for every member of our team and their families. We’re thrilled that this company will stay independent, private, and focused on long-term success - and that we’ll share that success together.”
— Brad Herrmann
Founder & CEO at Text-Em-All
SPOTLIGHT: Berrett-Koehler
Berrett-Koehler (BK) is a publishing company on a mission: “connecting people and ideas to create a world that works for all”.
Transitioning to steward-ownership has provided a legally binding promise that BK will be around in the long term.
Existing shareholders have an opportunity to invest or cash out, and BK will grow as a multi-generational impact media organization, with the security of knowing that purpose will never take a back seat to profit.
“We hope our multifaceted steward-ownership approach anchored by our new PPT will serve as a beacon to other B Corp, Benefit Corporation, or triple-bottom-line organizations on how to grow and flourish for generations to come as independent enterprises.”
— David Marshall,
CEO & CFO of Berret-Koehler
Steward-ownership is about more than just businesses - it’s about securing a resilient economy for communities.
Trust Neighborhoods demonstrates how to apply steward-ownership to housing. Their model protects affordability, enables mixed-income neighborhoods, and generates shared upside.
Learn more about
Trust Neighborhoods
If you are a business owner looking to transition to steward-ownership in the United States, Common Trust helps you set the company up for success without compromising values.
Common Trust is Purpose’s consulting and transaction partner.
PURPOSE FOUNDATION
The Purpose Foundation team localize and regionalize steward-ownership in each part of the world. They make steward-ownership accessible, and sustain a growing movement of interest in transforming our economy. *All illustrations on this site are copyrighted by Purpose Foundation International.