Self-governance
Control sits with the stewards: people who are closely involved with Careibu and its mission. They safeguard Careibu’s mission and continuity for the long term.
Steward ownership
Careibu belongs to itself
In 2025 Careibu took the step to Steward Ownership. We thereby aligned our legal structure with how our vision of ownership and social impact has developed over the years.
Why
The mission first, legally too
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When we started
Careibu started as a social enterprise with a traditional ownership structure and shareholders. Over the years, not only the organisation grew, but also our view of what kind of organisation we wanted to be and how ownership fits into that.
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Sixteen years later
We let go of ownership and structured Careibu legally so that its social mission remains central for future generations too.
All then-shareholders supported this transition and returned their shares to the organisation, for a reasonable compensation for their initial investment of time and money. Founders Lotte and Anne thereby also relinquished their ownership.
With Steward Ownership, Careibu has thus become its own. The people who now and in the future carry responsibility for Careibu carry the organisation forward, while the mission and the social destination of any profit are secured forever.
We are grateful to our former shareholders for supporting this step and thereby putting the social mission above their own financial interest.
Two principles
What steward ownership is
Steward Ownership ensures that control of Careibu lies with people who safeguard its mission, and that any profit is used for that social mission. These principles are legally anchored in our structure and statutes.
Value serves the mission
Any profit Careibu makes benefits our social mission through our ANBI foundation. So if money remains at the bottom line, the independent board of the Careibu Foundation decides how it can best be used for our target groups and mission.
How we set it up
One ecosystem, four legal entities
The Careibu ecosystem consists of a limited company and three foundations, each with its own responsibility around control, the destination of profit, and the protection of our Steward Ownership structure.
Everything within the Careibu ecosystem comes together in the same mission: giving young people the chance to matter for someone else, supporting people in a vulnerable position, and contributing to a society where people feel connected and responsible for one another.
Stewards: mission and continuity
Stichting Stewards Careibu holds the voting rights within Careibu. The stewards safeguard Careibu’s social mission and continuity for the long term. They are appointed for their involvement with, and endorsement of, Careibu’s mission, values and objectives.
The Careibu Foundation board: destination of profit
The Careibu Foundation is our independent ANBI foundation and holds the profit rights. If profit remains at the bottom line, the Foundation board decides how it is used to contribute directly to Careibu’s social mission and target groups.
Golden Share Foundation: structure
The independent Golden Share Foundation protects the Steward Ownership structure for the future. Its approval is required for major changes to the statutes. That way the fundamental principles of Steward Ownership remain safeguarded for good.
BV: puts the mission into practice
Our BV puts the mission into practice. This is the social enterprise where we work daily on our social mission: giving young people the chance to matter for someone else and supporting people in a vulnerable position.
Want to know more about the Careibu Foundation?
The Careibu Foundation is our independent ANBI foundation and holds the profit rights. The board decides how any profit is used to contribute directly to Careibu’s mission and target groups.