Airbnb Creates Endowment, Advisory Board for Hosts Ahead of IPO

Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Airbnb Inc. is creating an endowment fund to help support its hosts as the home-rental startup prepares for an initial public offering.

The San Francisco-based company said it will place 9.2 million shares into the endowment and hosts will be able to apply for grants from the fund once its value tops $1 billion. The program will “give hosts a seat at the table, and an opportunity to take part in our company’s success,” Airbnb said in a statement Friday.