About Us

Our Mission: To strengthen America’s cooperative movement by building and empowering a network of skilled cooperative development practitioners.

Our Vision: Thriving, cooperatively-owned enterprises are the bridge to a just, resilient democracy.

CooperationWorks! is a national network made up of organizational and individual members working in cooperative development. Our members provide everything from board trainings to business planning for new and growing co-ops.

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Who We Are
Our Values
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What We Do

CooperationWorks! — or CW for short — is the Center of Excellence for cooperative business development. We are a dynamic and innovative national cooperative created to grow the cooperative model across the United States.  We envision a society in which thriving, cooperatively-owned enterprises are the bridge to a just, resilient democracy.  Our mission is to strengthen America’s cooperative movement by building and empowering a network of skilled cooperative development practitioners.

CW members, a national network of Cooperative Development Centers, work together to revitalize communities through effective cooperative enterprise development. Members provide expertise across all aspects of cooperative development, including feasibility analysis, business plan development, training and education.  The network enables members to share expertise, develop and refine best practices, and to regularly engage in peer-to-peer learning.

CW offers critical cooperative development training, accessible to members and non-members alike.  Our flagship training, The Art and Science of Cooperative Development, is a cross-sector program that prepares participants to assist groups in creating their co-ops.

CW advocates for co-ops on a national level, working with partners like the National Cooperative Business Association and the US Department of Agriculture.  Our varied allies help us bring the good news about the values and benefits of the cooperative business model to leaders in the public and private sectors.

Our Members

CoBANK

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Cooperative Development Foundation

Education and Training, Financial, Fundraising, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Agricultural, Consumer, Grocery, Home Care, Housing, Platform Cooperative, Producer, Purchasing, Utility, Worker-Owned, Organization

Cooperative Development Institute

Business Planning, Co-op Model Transition, Governance, Legal, Operations, Start-Up, Board Training, Co-op Model Transitions, Community Ownership, Curriculum Development, Membership Development, Sector Specific Projects, Advocacy, Content Creation, Fundraising, Remote Staff, Training Programs / Webinar, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Agricultural, Artisan, Childcare, Consumer, Grocery, Housing, Producer, Purchasing, ROC, Utility, Worker-Owned, Organization

Democracy at Work Institute

Business Planning, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Food Co-op Initiative

Board Training, Business Planning, Co-op Model Transition, Financial, Fundraising, Governance, Marketing, Start-Up, Board Training, Community Ownership, Feasibility Analysis, Membership Development, Sector Specific Projects, Print Design, Training Programs / Webinar, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Consumer, Grocery, Organization

National Cooperative Bank

Financial, Advocacy, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Financial, Organization

NASCO

Business Planning, Co-op Model Transition, Financial, Governance, Operations, Start-Up, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Housing, Organization

Northwest Cooperative Development Center (NWCDC)

Board Training, Business Planning, Co-op Model Transition, Education and Training, Feasibility Studies, Financial, Fundraising, Governance, Grant Writing, Market Research, Marketing, Operations, Start-Up, Applied Research, Board Training, Co-op Model Transitions, Community Ownership, Curriculum Development, Feasibility Analysis, Membership Development, Sector Specific Projects, Advocacy, Fundraising, Remote Staff, Training Programs / Webinar, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Agricultural, Artisan, Broadband, Childcare, Consumer, Financial, Food Hub, Forestry, Freelancer, Grocery, Home Care, Housing, Multi-stakeholder, Platform Cooperative, Producer, Purchasing, ROC, Solar, Utility, Worker-Owned, Organization

Rural Grocery Initiative

Co-op Model Transition, Education and Training, Rural Grocery Models, Start-Up, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Consumer, Food Hub, Grocery, Purchasing, Organization

Margaret Bau

Board Training, Connections to Federal Government, Education and Training, Financial, Governance, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Agricultural, Childcare, Consumer, Financial, Food Hub, Grocery, Home Care, Multi-stakeholder, Producer, Utility, Worker-Owned, Individual

Ed Potter

Board Training, Business Planning, Education and Training, Governance, Legal, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Agricultural, Consumer, Multi-stakeholder, Producer, Individual

Who We Are

CooperationWorks! is a national network made up of organizational and individual members working in cooperative development. Our members provide everything from board trainings to business planning for new and growing co-ops. You can use our search tool to find a developer near you who can provide technical assistance to your co-op.

If you’re interested in becoming a cooperative developer, we offer a plethora of continuing education opportunities ranging from webinars to formal, multi-session certified trainings.

Staff & Board
Our Network
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Staff & Board of Directors

Alex Stone

Kim Coontz

Diane Gasaway

RL Condra

Teia Evans

Brian Donovan

Stuart Reid

Stephen McDow

Ben Burkett

Myrisa Christy

Our Values

In addition to adhering to the Cooperative Principles and the Madison Principles, CW identifies its core values as outlined below:

  • Cooperation: The power of people to improve their lives through shared action and teamwork.
  • Integrity: Fairness; justice; honesty; reflection and honest self-assessment; accountability.
  • Welcome diversity: Patient; inclusive; fair; loving; diversity of experience, ideas, cultures and projects.
  • Excellence and quality: Commitment to the best rather than the good; leadership.
  • Innovation: Creative; leading edge; intelligence; pragmatic.
  • Service: Brave leadership; sustainability; service to individuals, the environment and our communities; accountable
Madison Principles
Cooperative Principles
Our Code of Ethics
Racial Equity Statement

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