Use this checklist as you are planning your equity pledge to ensure you have alignment around the following decision points:
Choose your EQUITY SOURCE
Choose your CORPORATE EQUITY MODEL
- 1% Upfront
- 1% Distributed
Choose your FOUNDER EQUITY MODEL
Choose the % LOCKED IN UP FRONT
- Full 1% upfront
- 0.1% (additional .1% a year spread over 9 years)
- 0.2% (additional .2% a year spread over 4 years)
Choose a plan for CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP
- 100% of the 1% Equity Social Impact legacy preserved (exerciseable/transferred)
- 45% total of the 1% Social Impact Legacy preserved (accelerate remaining warrants/shares)
- All remaining warrants/reserved shares go away
Safeguard from SOCIAL IMPACT DILUTION
- Establish your intent to top off pre liquidity
(Social Impact commitment equals 1% of fully diluted shares at exit)
- Establish your intent to top off with each funding round
(Social Impact commitment equals 1% of fully diluted shares at exit)
- Anchor 1% commitment on number of fully diluted shares at time of exit
- Incorporate written commitment to top off in Board resolution and legal documents
Think about UPSIDE OF STOCK/SCHEDULED SALE
- 0.1% a year for 10 years post liquidity
- 0.2% a year for 5 years post liquidity
- Immediate sale of all social impact shares upon liquidity
- Warrant vests over time
- Acceleration in event of Change of Control
- Other (i.e. scheduled transfer and possibly sale begins pre-liquidity)
Try to AVOID VOLATILITY/INITIAL SALE
- As soon as possible after lock up
- 2 months after lock up
- 1 year anniversary of IPO
Choose whether or not to LEVERAGE A CORPORATE DONOR-ADVISED FUND
- Yes - Tides
- Yes - Other Philanthropic Partner
- No- Foundation and/or other philanthropic structure