Save the Date!
2027 Purpose Trust Ownership Conference
May 12-14 | Portland, OR
Purpose Trust ownership Network
Moving purpose trust ownership from the margins to the mainstream.
We are a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the growth of purpose trust ownership and employee ownership trusts in the United States.
What We Do
1. Develop public-facing educational resources, tools, and templates.2. Organize and support academic research and case studies.3. Educate the public about best practices in the creation and use of purpose trusts.4. Inform policy makers about supportive state and national policies.5. Document how purpose trust ownership can be a lever for addressing societal challenges such as wealth inequality, affordable housing, local economic sustainability, environmental degradation, and responsible technology.6. Support development of new financing mechanisms for purpose trust ownership.7. Coordinate with other nonprofits that support other forms of alternative ownership.
Knowledge Hub
PTON's Knowledge Hub supports the purpose trust ownership community by centralizing access to tools and resources, providing educational materials, fostering networking, and informing research.
Membership
PTON is an active network of practitioners, leaders, and organizations who want to shape how perpetual purpose trusts (PPT) and employee ownership trusts (EOTs) are defined, practiced, and scaled with integrity.
2027 Purpose Trust Ownership Conference
PTON's second conference is set for May 12-14, 2027, at The Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon. Save the date and join our email list below to get notified when registration opens.
Board Members
- David Diamond, President at The Northern Trust Company of Delaware
- Jenny Everett, Social Impact Advisor at Everett Interests
- David Gray, Director, Client Services at Project Equity
- Stacy Kraker, CEO at Hummingbird Wholesale
- Dana Stranz, Chief Risk Officer at RSF Social Finance
- Natalie Reitman-White, Founder and Principal at Purpose Owned
- Courtney Kemp, Senior Client Services Manager at Project Equity (non-voting)
- Peter Koehler, Founder and Principal at Stronghold Ownership (non-voting)
Staff & Principal Contributors
- Issie Corvi, PTON Director of Programs and Operations
- Elena Noyes, PTON Network Coordinator
- Dr. Mark Hand, Assistant Professor of at UT-Arlington, Founder of The Stakehold
- Dr. Saurabh Lall, Associate Professor of at University of Glasgow
Founding Supporters
Grant Sponsors: Gary Community Ventures, JPMorganChase, The Prudential Foundation, Sorenson Impact FoundationBusinesses/Organizations: Biohabitats, Broughton Consulting, Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX), Everett Interests, Just Money Advisors, National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), Northern Trust, Organically Grown Company, Optimax, Project Equity, Purpose Foundation, Purpose Owned, The Stakehold, Stronghold Ownership, Text-Em-All, RSF Social FinanceIndividual Donors: Dave and Christine Vernier, Jon Shell
Learn More and Stay in Touch
Read "Rethinking Ownership: Putting Purpose at the Center," written by some of our founders for the Harvard Social Review.
Please join our email list to get the most up-to-date information.
Purpose Trust Ownership Network is a U.S. tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. EIN 33-1284308.Reach out to us at hello [at] trustownership.org
© 2026 by the Purpose Trust Ownership Network
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Hiring
PTON is seeking a Network Coordinator to lead PTON’s membership and communication operations, ultimately ensuring that the PTON community is kept well informed, connected, and making steady progress to developing shared resources.Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.View the full job description and application instructions here.
2027 Purpose Trust Ownership Conference
Co-create the Future of Business Ownership
Purpose trust ownership is growing rapidly. Companies are hungry for solutions that preserve independence, center purpose, and align business success with broader benefit.Across the country, practitioners, innovators, and advocates are shaping purpose trust models that can do just that.Come and co-create a future in which purpose trust ownership is a recognizable and resilient ownership option for businesses throughout the United States.🗓 May 12-14, 2027
📍The Benson Hotel, Portland, Oregon
Registration opening soon. Subscribe below for updates.
Who Attends
Operators, innovators, and advocates of purpose trust ownership attend to build the field, share research, and develop best practices in the creation and use of purpose trusts.This includes leaders of purpose trust-owned companies and companies on the path to purpose trust ownership, along with the professional advisors, lawyers, investors, policymakers, academics, and nonprofit organizations who support them.
Location
This event will take place at the historic Benson Hotel in downtown Portland, Oregon.One of the most active hubs for purpose trust ownership, Oregon is home to pioneering state legislation and a growing cohort of trailblazing trust-owned companies and service providers.
Program
Led by a diverse community of pioneers and practitioners, sessions delve into real-world applications for purpose trust ownership through engaging, discussion-based formats.Themes include employee-, community-, and steward-ownership, responsible technology, environmental sustainability, and local business longevity.
Organizers
Alongside PTON staff, a Local Organizing Committee of PTON Members from the state shapes and hosts the event experience, and a Program Committee of educators and specialists informs the program content and speaker selections.
Growing with Intention
In February 2026, we brought together 150 attendees for our first-ever conference in Austin, Texas. Selling out nearly three months early proved that there is much more interest and excitement to include.This year, we’ll have 250 seats and more time to spend with the people, program, and all-round good energy that made that first event great.
“The combination of people was great. It brought together many different participants in this field, and what worked well for me was that, while I already knew a few people, I met a lot of new people.”“I was able to meet (in person!) many great folks working in the space. I enjoyed the "buzz" in the room, everyone excited to push things forward for EOTs.”“The agenda was packed with great speakers - super knowledgeable of their topics”“I wanted to attend multiple sessions at the same time. Great programming overall.”“I feel energized, ready to move forward, and well-supported as we encounter hurdles and questions.”“Best and most interesting conference that I have attended in years.”
Learn More and Stay in Touch
Follow us on LinkedIn and join our email list to be notified of registration and other opprtunities.
Questions or ideas? Reach out to us at hello [at] trustownership.org