Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund
Securing business legacy for resilient jobs and communities
The national Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund supports businesses throughout the U.S. that want to transition to employee ownership (EO) and need capital to finance the transition and transaction. It can also provide working capital to businesses before and after a transition.
Selling to employees can keep businesses and their jobs in communities by increasing the viable pool of buyers and tapping the energy of the next generation to address today’s business challenges.
EO builds more resilient local economies with stronger small businesses, higher quality jobs and creates a path to business ownership for low- to moderate-income workers and workers of color.
The Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund promotes resilient, quality jobs, increases worker voice, and preserves and strengthens small business assets in communities.
Learn how the Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund helped The Local Butcher Shop finance their transition.
The Fund
- Delivers transition capital to help businesses convert to EO and working capital to help businesses on the path to EO (as well as existing EO businesses), supporting long-term growth and sustainability.
- Expands the pipeline of businesses able to consider EO—including smaller businesses that face significant barriers to accessing capital from most lenders.
- Offers flexibility—use for partial or full Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs), or worker cooperatives anywhere in the U.S.
Contact Mission Driven Finance, fund management partner for investment opportunities
Who the Fund is for
- Businesses who want to access EO transition and working capital.
- Advisors, technical assistance providers, and lenders who need funding for their clients.
- Funders looking to co-lend or to refer EO deals outside their scope.
- Impact investors who want to support economic inclusion and a pathway to generational wealth for workers via business ownership.
The Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund is proud to be on Collective Action for Just Finance’s 2025 Transformative 25 list.
The Fund
- Catalyzes employee ownership, including for smaller businesses that face significant barriers to accessing capital from most lenders
- Expands the pipeline of businesses able to consider employee ownership
- Provides working capital to these businesses to help build back from COVID and begin the employee ownership transition
David Kenney
Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund Manager
Stacey Smith
Investment Manager
Alison Lingane
Fund Manager
Courtney Kemp
Fund Co-Manager
David Kenney
Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund Manager
