What is a purpose-driven company anyway? How can a company be run in a values-based way over the long term rather than being profit-maximizing? What happens if one day the company is inherited or sold and new investors are more interested in private wealth accumulation than in the mission? How can it be ensured that Stapelstein® continues to provide active everyday adventures for children in the future, remains a transparent and honest company, and thereby secures the trust of customers, employees, and business partners?
At this important intersection, Stapelstein® meets the Purpose Foundation.
What is the Purpose Foundation?
The Purpose Foundation is an international organization that supports companies in remaining independent and purpose-oriented over the long term. On the one hand, it serves as a point of contact for consulting and knowledge transfer; on the other hand, the Purpose Foundation is able to legally bind companies to their independence and value orientation. We at Stapelstein… have decided on the veto model. In this model, a share – 1% “golden share” – of the company is transferred to the Purpose Foundation. This gives the foundation a right of veto, which is activated, among other things, if actions or investments are taken that go against the company’s purpose.
The Purpose Economy is a pioneering economic model that focuses on a “we-economy.” For Hannah and Stephan, this is the key to guaranteeing long-term independent and purpose-driven corporate leadership
A company in steward-ownership
- Decisions are made by active entrepreneurs.
- Profits remain within the company and cannot be withdrawn for personal purposes.
- The company can neither be sold nor automatically passed on through inheritance.
Self-determination
The principle of self-determination states that Stapelstein® no longer belongs to shareholders who are not actively working in the company, but is instead steered exclusively by those who are closely involved with the mission on a daily basis.
If investors wish to support the company financially, it is possible to receive shares; however, voting rights are excluded. The Purpose Foundation also only has co-determination rights without any profit participation.
Asset lock
The principle of asset lock means: “Profits and assets cannot be withdrawn for individual purposes, but instead serve the mission and purpose of the company and its development. Fulfilling the original entrepreneurial task remains the focus,” explains Jakob Willeke from the Purpose consulting team, which, as part of the PURPOSE network, advocates for a sustainable and fair economy and actively supported founders Stephan and Hannah throughout the process.
Profits are reinvested directly into Stapelstein® projects or donated.
Stapelstein® is a purpose-driven company and owns itself
We are celebrating this significant step into steward-ownership, as we have found both a corporate structure that aligns with our values and allows us to grow autonomously as a company, and an essential signal in economic policy to give greater visibility to this forward-looking ownership model.
Did you know that…
in Germany alone, there are now an estimated 300 pioneer companies organized under steward-ownership? Examples include Waschbär, Einhorn, Waldorfshop, and Ecosia.
“For us, the transformation into a company of this kind is the logical and inevitable consequence of how we view our enterprise and our lives,” explains Stephan Schenk, founder and designer of Stapelstein®.
Here you can find a detailed case study about Stapelstein®