Final answer:
Equity financing requires a company to give up some degree of operational control as investors who buy shares gain decision-making power through a board of directors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of financing that generally requires giving up some degree of operational control, or decision-making power, in a company is C. Equity financing.
When a company chooses equity financing, it involves selling shares of the company to investors, who become part-owners and thus may have a say in the business decisions.
The equity investors are typically represented by a board of directors that has a role in overseeing the company's management and strategic direction.
In contrast, debt financing, such as borrowing money from a bank or issuing bonds, obligates a company to make regular interest payments but allows the owners to retain full control over the company's operations.