Institutional Investment and Employee Ownership
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Employee ownership has garnered increased attention and support from investors in recent years; however, attracting large-scale institutional capital remains challenging.
Many view employee ownership as complex and are unsure about potential returns, or don’t fully understand how the model works; all of this hinders wider adoption.
In this issue of “From the Forum,” we’re highlighting a conversation from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum on the current state of employee ownership investment and what it will take to bring more institutional capital into the field. The Forum — co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University — brought together leaders and practitioners to explore how ownership can reshape work and workplaces.
Bridging the Gap: Institutional Investment and Employee Ownership
In this panel from the 2025 Employee Ownership Forum, speakers explore why employee ownership continues to gain traction among investors–and why attracting institutional capital at scale remains a challenge. They address common misconceptions about employee ownership, concerns regarding risk and returns, and the fundamental knowledge gaps that still hinder investors’ engagement. Click here for the full discussion.
Related Videos
Related Resource
The Case for Investing in Employee Ownership, Stanford Social Innovation Review
The Evolution of Impact Investing: A Q&A with Sorenson Impact Institute CEO Katie Macc and ImpactAlpha Founder and Editor David Bank, Sorenson Impact Institute
Securing Business Ownership through Employee Ownership, Federation of American Scientists
A Housing Finance Investment Model Sparks Hope For Black Wealth, HousingWire
About the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum
The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum brings together leading policymakers, practitioners, experts, and the media for a robust discussion on how we can grow employee ownership for the shared benefit of American workers and businesses. It is hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing.
About the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing
The purpose of the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing is to study the various models that have emerged and will emerge of employee ownership shares and profit shares in the corporation and society of the United States and around the world.
About the Economic Opportunities Program
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.
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