Comprehensive Training
For Cooperative Developers
This intensive, outcome-based curriculum is focused exclusively on cooperative applications and real-world elements such as site visits and interactive case studies. The training provides critical lessons in cooperative business model, group facilitation and start-up issues while incorporating challenges cooperatives face today. Upon completion of the program participants will be able to:
Understand the unique attributes of the cooperative business model
Lead groups through the key steps of cooperative business development process
Set up effective governance models for start-up cooperatives
Apply strong group facilitation and communication skills
Assess cooperative finance and capitalization strategies towards business success
Advise groups on the process of completing a feasibility study
Prepare a cooperative business plan
Educate groups on the legal structure and the tax environment for cooperatives
Build successful cooperative development ecosystems
Building Blocks
The first session of The Art and Science of Cooperative Development lays out the basics of the cooperative model, including governance, feasibility, business basics, and memberships. Additionally, we’ll cover topics ranging from cooperative history to building your cooperative ecosystem.
Toolkit Implementation
This session will dive deeper into topics like feasibility, explore a wider array of business planning tools, include more information and resources for later stages of business development, and put more emphasis on the field of cooperative development and the participants’ role in it.
Building Blocks: Cooperative Basics, Building Capacity, and Developing Leadership
REGISTRATION FOR BUILDING BLOCKS ONLINE: WESTERN US IS NOW OPEN!!!
In 2021, Building Blocks Online will be offered fourt times as part of a program expansion aim at training up co-op developers to tackle the economic recovery in an equitable, sustainable way. We’re proud to offer Building Blocks for a Cooperative Economy starting in summer 2021 with support from the Cooperative Development Foundation and CHS Foundation.
The first offering of Building Blocks Online 2021 will be held from June 30th-July 23rd. This course will focus on the western US and co-opers in this area are encouraged to enroll! Anyone can register when registration opens on Monday, May 10th, 2021.
Participants in need of financial assistance can submit a scholarship application by May 28th, 2021.
Building Blocks (formerly Session 1) provides a thorough but introductory overview into the field of cooperative development. This session lays out the basics of the cooperative model, including governance, feasibility, business basics, and memberships. We’ll cover topics ranging from cooperative history to building your cooperative ecosystem. Participants will learn from case studies that delve into particular topics in co-op development, such as investment cooperatives, conversions, and assisting groups in low-resource communities. Additionally, tours to local co-ops and ample networking opportunities this intensive, productive, and meaningful training.
As COVID-19 has forced us all to change our plans, CooperationWorks is transforming our four-day in-person training into a virtual training held on eight days over the course of a month. While this is the same cohesive and robust training we’ve offered in the past, this format allows participants to register for and participate in select days if they are unable to attend the entire training. Registering for the complete course comes with a significant discount.
- June 30th, Wednesday – Building the Network: Overview, Intros, and Networking
- July 6th, Tuesday – Co-ops 101: The Basics Day!
- July 8th, Thursday – It’s Business Time: The Business Day!
- July 12th, Monday – Cooperation Works?: The People Day!
- July 14th, Wednesday – Will It Work?: The Feasibility Day!
- July 16th, Friday – All the Power to All the People: The Case Studies Day!
- July 19th, Monday & July 21st, Wednesday – Break It Down Now: The Co-op Sectors Days!
- July 23rd, Friday – Build It to Last: The Ecosystem Day!
Building Blocks Online will be held four times in 2021 via Zoom. The first offering, highligh co-op development in the Western US, will be held from June 30th-July 23rd.
Check out trainers for Building Blocks 2021: the Western US. More will be added shortly!
- Courtney Berner, Executive Director, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives
- Margaret Bau, Cooperative Developer, USDA-Rural Development
- Brel Hutton-Okpalaeke, Director of Development Services, NASCO
- Nat Marineau Beget, Cooperative Educator
- Margaret Lund, Principal, Co-opera
Building Blocks 2021 will be offered as four separate programs tailored toward different regions. The first program will be offered June 30th-July 23rd and will focus on the western US. Registration opens May 10th. If you register by Monday, May 31st, the early bird tuition is $1100. Starting June 1st, registation will be $1200.
There are limited scholarships available. Participants in need of financial assistance can submit a scholarship application by May 28th, 2021.
Toolkit Implementation: Practical Application of Tools and Skills for Cooperative Developers
Toolkit Implementation was offered as an online course in 2020. We’re excited to build out an expanded offering of Building Blocks this year and will update you soon on the next offering of Toolkit Implementation!
Toolkit Implementation (formerly Session 2) builds upon the concepts and skills developed in Building Blocks and prompts participants to use these in interactive, hands-on, case studies. This session will dive deeper into topics like feasibility, explore a wider array of business planning tools, include more information and resources for later stages of business development, and put more emphasis on the field of cooperative development and the participants’ role in it. Toolkit Implementation includes hands-on case studies, peer clinicals, and plenty of opportunties to practice your co-op develoment skills!
The next offering of Toolkit Implementation will be late fall 2021.
Check out the Trainers for Toolkit Implementation Online 2020.
- Teia Evans, Associate Director, Carolina Common Enterprise
- Margaret Bau, Cooperative Development Specialist, US Department of Agriculture
- Courtney Berner, Executive Director, UW Center for Cooperatives
- Nat Marineau Begej, Cooperative Educator
- Alex Stone, Executve Director, CooperationWorks!
- Ricardo Nuñez, Director of Economic Democracy, Sustainable Economies Law Center
- Christina Jennings, Executive Director, Shared Capital Cooperative
- Esther West, Cooperative Development Specialist, UW Center for Cooperatives
- Margaret Lund, Principal, Co-opera
- Stuart Reid, Executive Director, Food Co-op Initiative
Cost will be determined when dates are finalized.
Finance Fundamentals: Financial Analysis for New Cooperatives
Finance Fundamentals was offered in January 2020. Stay tuned for our next offering (coming late 2021 or early 2022)
Finance Fundamentals (formerly Session 3) is a five-day, webinar-based training that gives participants hands-on experience building their own Excel workbook to determine the feasibility of a start-up co-op. This training requires some knowledge of Excel and will build participants’ knowledge of the program. Finance Fundamentals requires daily homework assignments as well as a final exam. This intensive session demands participants learn and utilize practical skills for assessing feasibility and determining success factors for new cooperatives. Check out a sample agenda.Corrigan Nadon Nichols leads the course.
Finance Fundamentals will be offered M-W-Fr. January 6-15th 2021 via Zoom Video Conferencing.
Lead Trainer: Corrigan Nadon Nichols
Corrigan Nadon-Nichols has been consulting for non-profits, small businesses, cooperatives, and condominium associations for over ten years. He has assisted dozens of groups through initial formation, start-up, expansion, and recovering from crises. Corrigan has managed staff teams as well as boards of directors and has experience bridging the divides between different groups of stakeholders in an organization or business. Corrigan is also an experienced trainer and educator, who focuses on building the capacity of his clients.
Cost will be determined when the dates for the next offering are set.
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