With ESOPATHON in full swing, chapters across the country are finding creative ways to build energy and community around fundraising for the Employee Ownership Foundation (EOF). Three highlights this month show just how much momentum is going into this year’s campaign.
Cornhole for a Cause
Back by popular demand, the Cornhole Tournament returns as the Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio/Kentucky Chapters team up for the Great Lakes Regional Conference, September 29 through October 1.
All proceeds benefit EOF, giving attendees a chance to toss, score, and support employee ownership education at the same time. Space is limited, so anyone attending the conference should register early to secure a spot.
The Wall of Fortune
The Mid-Atlantic & Carolinas Chapter Council (MACC) introduced the Wall of Fortune at its Fall Conference in Raleigh, September 15–16. Chapter officers asked member companies to donate gift cards worth $20 to $100, which enabled the chapter to stage the fundraiser at very little cost. Attendees donated $20 to the EOF, selected a numbered envelope at the registration desk, and claimed the gift card inside. The chapter prominently recognized donor companies on the wall and directed every dollar raised to the Foundation and ESOPATHON. MACC and EOF thank the generous supporters who volunteered and donated gift cards to the event. “Together, attendees raised $1,300 for the Foundation—proof that every contribution, big or small, moves ESOPATHON closer to its $600,000 goal,” said Steve Earle of Mid South Building Supply, Inc., Vice Chair TEA Board of Directors, and MACC Vice President - Fundraising/Sponsorships.
Scholars’ Stories
Behind every ESOPATHON donation is a real impact. ESOPATHON dollars support important educational programs, and this year’s Trustee Scholars are bringing that impact to life by sharing their own stories. 2026 EOF Trustee Scholar Ailia Westgate talks about what her scholarship meant to her in a video testimony, part of an ongoing series spotlighting this year’s class. Fellow scholar Allison Grooms tells her own story in a separate video, another reminder of what a single donation can turn into.
Still a Long Way to Go
Creative fundraisers like these have helped ESOPATHON raise $108,242 toward this year’s $600,000 goal, with plenty of runway left before October 31. Every gift, whether it’s a cornhole entry fee, a Wall of Fortune envelope, or a direct donation, funds the Foundation’s work: Trustee Scholarships, the Edmunson Scholarship for non-management employee owners, Leading in an Ownership Setting™, the ESOP Employee Accelerator, and independent research through the Louis O. Kelso Fellowships at Rutgers.
Ready to jump in? Grab the ESOPATHON Participation Guide and other resources to build your own fundraiser, big or small, and see how far your chapter or company can push the total. Learn more and sign up at esopathon.org.
The Employee Ownership Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting the employee ownership model of business. EOF raises public awareness of employee ownership and catalyzes independent, academic research into the issues these businesses face. Its work helps spark and sustain action among business owners, leaders, policymakers, employees, and the media, all in pursuit of a simple goal: more employees with an ownership stake, and a market that rewards it.
