Grants & Funding

Apply for funding or a grant

The Foundation sponsors research that helps businesses operate more effective employee owned companies and helps policy makers, the media, and the general public better understand the benefits of employee ownership. Our goal is to grow the number of high-quality employee owned firms so that all employees have a chance to own a stake in the businesses where they work. To start applying for a Foundation grant, click the button below.

Apply for an EOF Grant

Candidates for a foundation grant include

  • Graduate Students.
  • Academic institutions and centers.
  • Professional research firms with an interest in employee ownership.

Grants & programs funded by the foundation

Academic Fellowships

$85000.00

In 2018, the Foundation funded eight fellowships, which are chosen and administered by the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.

The Foundation paid directly for six Kelso Fellowships, which are named after employee ownership pioneer Louis Kelso. Two other fellowships—the Joseph Cabral Fellowship and the Rob Edwards Fellowship—are supported by directed donations from Joseph Cabral and the firm of Steiker, Greenapple & Fusco, respectively.

Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing

$100000.00

The Institute is the only center in the nation devoted specifically to the study of employee ownership. The Foundation is providing $250,000 to launch the Institute and to ensure its viability. These donations are scheduled as follows: $100,000 in 2018 and 2019; $50,000 in 2020.

The Institute has pledged to leverage these funds, along with other programmatic gifts from the Foundation, to build a $10 million endowment to ensure its permanent and continual operation.

CEO Training: Leading in an Ownership Setting

This annual two-week, intensive program is designed exclusively for top executives of ESOP companies. The program offers unique content structured specifically to address the challenges faced by presidents and CEOs of employee owned businesses. Many employee owned companies have used this valuable training program as part of their leadership succession planning and development.

Program alumni network with members of their class, as well as members of prior and later classes, creating a one-of-a-kind resource for discussion, brainstorming, and sharing ideas.

Employee Owner Retreats

Focused on developing employee owners into ESOP champions, this annual three-day event offers a combination of small group discussions and structured exercises to help attendees develop new perspectives on ownership, while learning from one another. Content focuses on topics such as team problem solving skills, ownership communication, and financial literacy.

This retreat is run by the Ohio Employee Ownership Center at Kent State University, with financial backing and support from the Employee Ownership Foundation.

Edmunson Scholarships

$22000.00

Named in honor of employee ownership pioneer Charles Edmunson, these scholarships advance his vision of encouraging education and development of employee owners—especially related to gaining greater understanding of ESOPs. Scholarships are typically used to attend the Employee Owner Retreat, National Conference, and other conferences geared towards topics relevant to employee owners. Eleven scholarships, in the amount of $2,000 each, were issued in 2020.

For more information, terms, and application forms, please see the Edmunson Scholarship page.

State Centers for Employee Ownership

$20000.00

The Foundation issued two $10,000 grants to state centers for employee ownership in Pennsylvania and Delaware. The funds help provide information to owners interested in selling their businesses to their employees.