Fifty by Fifty is catalyzing a movement to scale up employee ownership
Our goal: 50 million employee owners in the US by 2050
An initiative of The Democracy Collaborative, Fifty by Fifty is aimed at creating a more inclusive economy through employee ownership. Our goal is to catalyze a movement with the knowledge, resources, and skills to grow the number of employee owners in the U.S. to 50 million Americans by 2050.
The latest employee ownership news
B Corp Champions Retreat Highlighted Employee Ownership
Fifty by Fifty joined mission-led employee-owned companies to shine spotlight on benefits of employee ownership.
Continue Reading B Corp Champions Retreat Highlighted Employee Ownership
For Co-op Conversions, It’s All in the Timing
To grow employee ownership, impact investors, foundations, and other agencies must consider business lifecycle.
Continue Reading For Co-op Conversions, It’s All in the Timing
Cooperative Industry Requests Congressional Hearing on SBA Loans
Small Business Administration report offers no alternatives to the personal guarantee.
Continue Reading Cooperative Industry Requests Congressional Hearing on SBA Loans
The North Carolina Employee Ownership Center Launches
New resource to help baby boomer-owned businesses
with succession planning.
Continue Reading The North Carolina Employee Ownership Center Launches
Fifty by Fifty Goal: 50 Million Employee Owners? Or 50 Million Empowered Employee Owners?
Is it enough to have millions of employee owners with tiny shares of publicly traded companies?
Illinois 14th State to Legally Recognize Worker Cooperatives
New statute will make it easier to launch and grow worker cooperatives.
Continue Reading Illinois 14th State to Legally Recognize Worker Cooperatives
Employee Ownership Rarely Integrated into MBA Programs
Employee ownership makes stakeholder capitalism real,
says Marjorie Kelly in the Boston Globe.
Continue Reading Employee Ownership Rarely Integrated into MBA Programs
Models for Taking Cooperatives to Scale
A typology of cooperative networks and associations can help cooperatives think about how to scale and maintain their values.
Kendeda Fund Announces Plan to Invest over $24 Million in Expanding Employee Ownership
Grants will catalyze at least 100 employee ownership conversions over five years.
“It takes a job to get out of poverty but it takes assets to stay out of poverty. Ownership shares increase in value over time, generating wealth and security.”
—Fifty by Fifty cofounder Marjorie Kelly
Employee ownership offers a solution to the vast income and wealth inequality that is undermining America’s economy.
GOOD FOR EMPLOYEES
- WAGES: Employee owners earn average wages 5 to 12 percent higher than employees in conventional firms.
- WEALTH: The net worth of employee owners aged 28 to 34 is 92 percent higher than for non-employee owners.
- RETIREMENT SAVINGS: The average retirement savings for an ESOP employee is $170,000, twice the national average.
GOOD FOR BUSINESS
- TURNOVER: Employee engagement is higher and turnover is lower at employee-owned companies.
- GROWTH: Transitions to employee ownership increase productivity by more than 4 percent.
- STABILITY: Employee owners are one-fourth as likely to be laid off and their companies go bankrupt less frequently.
GOOD FOR COMMUNITIES
- JOBS: Employee ownership saves local jobs, because companies that are owned by their employees are far less likely to leave their communities.
- LOCAL WEALTH: Employee ownership keeps wealth circulating in local communities.
GOOD FOR OWNERS
- LEGACY: When business owners sell their businesses to their employees, they can keep their legacy alive for generations to come.
- SAVINGS: Entrepreneurs and family owners can realize the value the business has built while enjoying substantial tax savings.
- RESPONSIBILITY: Business founders and families can find ready buyers in employees, avoiding sale to those who would dismantle the business.
