Foundation News

Each year, the Employee Ownership Foundation sponsors vital research being done at the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. This month, we’re highlighting one of the Institute’s latest research briefs on how employee-owned companies are perceived by job seekers. 

This recent study looked at workers, job seekers, and business school seniors at public universities and asked their views on EO vs. non-EO companies. Their results were quite positive:

Jim Bonham, the President and CEO of The ESOP Association and Employee Ownership Foundation, was again invited to address the attendees of the Mid-Year Fellows Workshop in Honor of Louis O. Kelso, held at Rutgers University through its Institute for the Study of Employer Ownership and Profit Sharing.  The Employee Ownership Foundation is one of the chief sponsors of the event, and through its donations the Institute funds Kelso Fellows who conduct important research on ESOPs and employee ownership. 

    As part of the Employee Ownership Foundation’s efforts to invest in the future of employee ownership, the Foundation launched the Trustee Scholars program in late 2023 to provide scholarships in support of post-secondary education. The application process was open from December 15, 2023 until February 15, 2024.  Nearly 400 applications were received for this scholarship program in just its inaugural year! Scholarships will be awarded in the spring for the upcoming fall 2024 academic semester.

The Employee Ownership Foundation (EOF) has helped to fund many projects in support of our mission to promote employee ownership. One of the most longstanding is the annual Kelso Workshop at Rutgers University in January.  Each year this academic conference convenes experts, researchers, and supporters of employee ownership, and the EOF has historically sponsored this gathering as well as some of the fellows and researchers who present their scholarly findings.

Application Opening Soon

December 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024

• Created by the Employee Ownership Foundation for children of employee owners
• Open to corporate members of The ESOP Association
• Each year, the Foundation will award two, $5,000 per year scholarships for college or trade school, renewable for up to four years each
• Up to $20,000 for a four-year degree
• Scholarship winners will also be eligible for a paid internship in the Washington headquarters of The ESOP Association

Because of your amazing efforts, the Employee Ownership Foundation is thrilled to announce that October’s ESOPATHON has shattered last year’s fundraising total by $100,000, raising more than $512,000 in a single month! In addition, your support for ESOPATHON has helped the EOF raise more than $700,000 in 2023, another all-time high.