Funding rights do not themselves provide US employment authorization.
Assess status separately
Qualifying E spouses may work incident to appropriate status with required evidence. A family loan, gift or pending case is not an automatic work basis, even if the proposed assistance is unpaid.
Analyze investment rights and immigration work authority separately. A spouse's contribution may affect ownership, treaty nationality, source of funds, or control, but the transfer itself authorizes no U.S. employment. A qualifying E spouse may work as an incident of appropriate status with required evidence; until then, working without pay or through a family account may still be work. The principal's case must show treaty nationality, irrevocably committed funds exposed to loss, substantiality, a genuine non-marginal enterprise, and development and direction through 50% ownership or operational control. E-2 does not directly lead to a green card. The usual mistake is putting the spouse on a work schedule as soon as money arrives.
Hypothetical example: an Orford eco-laundry founder and her spouse jointly fund equipment, but only she will initially hold E-2 status. He plans to install machines and manage suppliers during setup. They should confirm the enterprise's Canadian treaty ownership and trace both contributions, then delay his productive tasks until he holds properly documented E spouse status or another authorization. Once eligible, his incident-to-status work authority is distinct from her capital case. His equipment payment cannot prove that her investment is substantial, committed, at risk, or directed by her.