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Source verified July 4, 2026
$1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant
Supports employee ownership transitions and regional capacity
Funding available
$ 1,000,000
Deadline
August 4, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
The $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant from the James S. McDonnell Foundation supports one lead organization or consortium in St. Louis, Missouri to advance employee ownership and inclusive wealth creation. It funds financing, technical assistance, and ecosystem-building activities that help businesses complete ownership transitions and strengthen long-term regional capacity.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
- Develop a new program or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Rural or Northern Residents
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Deploy capital to support employee ownership transactions
- Provide technical assistance and transaction support for employee ownership
- Build or expand a St. Louis-based regional employee ownership hub
- Carry out system-level education and outreach
- Coordinate with financial institutions, workforce systems, and community partners
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Nonprofit organizations
- Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
- Financial institutions
- Investment firms
- Business Support Intermediaries
- Entrepreneur Support Organizations
- Multi-organization consortia with a clearly identified lead
Eligible expenses
- Subordinated or patient capital to support ESOP and employees’ purchase of a company
- Recoverable grants or flexible capital for early-stage transactions
- Post-conversion stabilization and working capital
- Feasibility studies and succession planning
- Due diligence, legal, tax, valuation, and trustee services
Selection criteria
- Alignment with JSMF Goals
- Organizational Capacity
- Employee Ownership Expertise
- Deployment Strategy
- Impact Potential
- Leverage & Sustainability
- Successful Track Record in structuring and completing employee ownership transactions
How to apply
- Submit proposal through the application portal.
Processing and Agreement
- Applicants and their applications will be evaluated based on the listed selection criteria.
- The selected grantee will be expected to act as a trusted regional partner.
Additional information
- The selected grantee will act as a trusted regional partner to support employee ownership transactions.
- The grant term is expected to be 2–4 years.
- Proposals should demonstrate how the initiative will contribute to broad-based worker ownership, job preservation, stronger local businesses, and a sustainable, replicable model.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant Program
What is the $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant?
The $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant from the James S. McDonnell Foundation supports one lead organization or consortium in St. Louis, Missouri to advance employee ownership and inclusive wealth creation. It funds financing, technical assistance, and ecosystem-building activities that help businesses complete ownership transitions and strengthen long-term regional capacity.
How much funding can be received?
$1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant Funds up to $1,000,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant program?
To be eligible for the $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant program, you must:
Lead organization or consortium with a clearly identified lead
Capacity to deploy capital, coordinate technical assistance, and build long-term infrastructure for employee ownership
Strong track record in structuring and completing employee ownership transactions
What expenses are eligible under $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant?
Deploy capital to support employee ownership transactions
Provide technical assistance and transaction support for employee ownership
Build or expand a St. Louis-based regional employee ownership hub
Carry out system-level education and outreach
Coordinate with financial institutions, workforce systems, and community partners
Who can I contact for more information about the $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant?
You can contact James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) by email at hollins@jsmf.org or by phone at none.
Where is the $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant available?
The $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant program is available across Canada.
Is the $1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant a grant, loan, or tax credit?
$1 Million Open Call: Employee Ownership Financing & Technical Support Grant is a Grant and Funding