Our corporate structure has changed very little in the last 100 years. But these models are in many ways outdated. There has been a growing trend to focus on community based initiatives. Some work has been done in this area in the way of Benefit Corporations, but their models are nearly identical to other for profit businesses. The only difference is that they are partially relieved of their fiduciary responsibilities to the shareholders so that they can focus more on their community oriented mission statement.
But this is not enough. In the past, I mentioned the benefit of various forms of social capitalism. In many social capitalist systems, either the employees or the customers are owners of the business, and so the profits are distributed to these owners rather to shareholders who may have no other relationship to the company. This model is useful because it is relatively simple, and it helps ensure that the employees and/or costumers have representation in the company. But there is a down side. It can often be very difficult to start such a company, due to the limited amount of funds available from members.
Twin Board
There is a way however, to ensure representation for employees and customers, while also obtaining outside funding, while also being able to give these outside investors some representation in the company, in order to attract further investment. This involves a twin board of directors, one which represents, and is elected by, the employment side of the company, and the other which represents, and is elected by, the consumer side of the company, along with a CEO who acts as a tiebreaker during votes, and who is voted in by the outside investors.
While a complicated system could be used to determine the number of members of the board, it makes sense, at least in most cases, to have the twin boards carry an equal number of members. Employees and customers would pay a membership fee entitling them to one vote. Investment class stock would act essentially like preferred stock in a normal corporation, carrying a fixed interest rate, except that it would convey voting rights when selecting the CEO. It is still undecided whether or not there should be any kind of vetoing power.
Summary
This system, while certainly more complicated than the standard corporate model, used in the United States, has the advantage of producing a system which can receive the funding necessary to create and maintain a successful corporation, while also protecting the interests of the workers and the consumers. This system could be used for food cooperatives, general types of stores, banks, and more.