The National Center for Employee Ownership has created the NCEO Registry to certify employee-owned companies in which a majority of shares are held by individuals that are often excluded from ownership.
In its initial phase (through August 2025), the NCEO Registry will offer three types of certifications: Majority Minority Employee-Owned (MMEO), Majority Women Employee-Owned (MWEO), and Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Employee-Owned (SEDEO). For convenience, they are collectively called the “NCEO Registry Certifications.”
The certification is based on the idea that employee ownership provides workers in every demographic category of the US workforce an opportunity to build economic well-being via an ownership stake in the companies where they work. Research demonstrates that employee ownership builds household wealth for working class people and that this impact applies across ethnic, gender, education level, and other demographic groups. (See the NCEO main research page and this video from the employee-owned company Lewis Services, the first company to receive an NCEO Registry Certification).
The NCEO Registry Certifications are currently offered under preliminary standards that accommodate employee ownership via an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Updated standards, expected in 2025, will incorporate worker cooperatives. Future updates may expand certification to include veterans, opportunities zones, or rural areas.
If you would like to know more about recognizing the NCEO Registry certifications for your own purchasing or other objectives, learn more in Can Employee-Owned Companies Help You Reach Your Diverse Spending Goals?
For more details about the certification process – including the 13 documents required for certification – read the NCEO Registry Certification Overview. The overview also covers the broad aims of this project, including the extent and impact of employee ownership
If your company is interested in the NCEO Registry certifications, learn more in Can Your Employee-Owned Company Receive Purchasing Preference Certification?
Companies interested in exploring whether the certification is a good fit for them can complete the form below to learn more.