ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that transfer all or a portion of the company's stock into a trust administered on behalf of the employees.

An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is a legal structure where a trust holds company shares for employees' benefit. It gives them a stake in the company, potentially sharing profits and fostering a sense of ownership.

Worker cooperatives are businesses owned and governed by their employees. Workers share profits, vote on decisions, and have a say in how the company operates.

Impact investing is about making investments that aim to create positive social or environmental effects while also making financial gains. It involves considering a company's commitment to corporate social responsibility or serving society positively.

Refers to a business specialist who is experienced with one or more aspects of employee ownership (e.g., valuation, entity selection, taxation, etc.)

All of the steps that go into the selling of a business, often broken down into operational (people and processes) and financial (EBITDA, etc.) planning. This includes defining the goals/objectives of the selling owner(s).

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.

Business valuation, essential for sales, partnerships, taxes, and legal proceedings, determines a company's economic worth. This involves an in-depth analysis of management, financial structure, and future earnings potential to accurately assess the business's value.

A board of directors (BoD) is the governing body of a company, whose members may be elected by shareholders to set strategy, oversee management, and protect the interests of shareholders and stakeholders.

A blended finance strategy which takes account of some unique characteristics of most EO companies, e.g., not utilizing personal guarantees due to broad-based ownership

The financial field dedicated to buying and selling businesses

Philanthropy refers to charitable acts or other good works that help others or society as a whole, and can include donating money to a worthy cause or volunteering time, effort, or other forms of altruism.

A "does it make sense?" analysis of a business sale. Feasibility studies can include multiple types of analysis, typically including at least financial (more quantitative) and operational (more qualitative) analysis.

A repurchase obligation is the legal requirement for closely held ESOP companies to buy back shares from former employee-owners at fair market value, typically upon retirement, termination, disability, or death.

An "ownership culture" in an employee-owned business goes beyond just financial ownership - it is about creating a mindset and work environment where employees truly feel and act like owners, with a vested interest in the company's long-term success.

Private equity refers to capital investments made in companies or assets that are not publicly traded. PE investments are typically longer term and less liquid compared to mutual funds.

Due diligence in M&A is the thorough investigation and verification of a target company's financial, operational, legal, and strategic aspects to assess risks and opportunities before a transaction.

Advocating for employee ownership with various elected officials including but not limited to local, state/regional and national government bodies and agencies.

The team of advisors who will help the selling owner to transition the business to its new owners.

CDFIs are federally insured and regulated depository institutions that provide credit and financial services to people and communities underserved by mainstream commercial banks and lenders.

An accountant is usually certified in their jurisdiction, using titles such as “Certified Public Accountant”, and qualified to advise on tax laws, analyze financial statements, and perform audits.

Diversity: The representation of different groups in an enterprise. Equity: giving people what they need based on their unique circumstances. Inclusion: being seen, understood, and valued as an individual, with a unique identity, skills, and experience

a financial services company that acts as an intermediary in large and complex financial transactions; usually involved when a startup company prepares for its launch of an IPO and during strategic M&A; or as a broker or financial adviser for large institutional clients

Holding companies come in many forms. ESOP Holding Companies, regular holding companies, etc

An example of storytelling about an employee owned company (or companies) which may include transition, mature functioning, winding up, etc.

A US Government department designed to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

A unionized worker co-op is a business governed and owned by its workers with the distinctive features that it uses the collective bargaining process to determine pay, benefits, etc. for its workers, and is connected to the larger union movement.

Specific forms of communication to employee owners by sponsoring companies that may be organized by a Communications Committee, and which often are used to educate employees about the rights and benefits of ownership

Optimizing for the benefits of EO post-transaction in order to create and reify ownership culture with practices such as OBM

A Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) is a blockchain-based entity with no central authority, where token holders collectively make decisions. Utilizing smart contracts, DAOs automate processes and ensure transparency, with all activities recorded on a blockchain.