Purpose Trust Ownership Network

he Purpose Trust Ownership Network (PTON) is a newly formed nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the growth of purpose trust ownership in the United States, including those focused on employee ownership, affordable housing, local economic sustainability, environmental preservation, and responsible technology. PTON is a collaborative effort to help create the infrastructure needed to support the growth of this new ownership alternative, and sustain a network that will build the capacity of organizations supporting business owners in their conversions.

PTON activities include developing public-facing educational resources, organizing academic research, developing best practices in the creation and use of purpose trusts, informing policy makers about supportive state and national policies, supporting development of new financing mechanisms for purpose trust ownership, coordinating with other nonprofits that support other forms of alternative ownership, and materials showing how how purpose trust ownership can be a lever for addressing societal challenges including wealth inequality, affordable housing, local economic sustainability, environmental degradation, and responsible technology.