TABLE OF CONTENTS What is a Cooperative? 2 Why People Start Cooperatives 3 Cooperatives in Wisconsin 3 Types of Cooperatives 4 Comparing Business Structures 8 How Cooperatives Are Controlled 9 Cooperative Finance 10 How to Start a Cooperative 12

Call for Participation Help us in an effort to design a process that incentivizes feedback loops and produces dynamic structure and safe environmental conditions to empower self-growth on a shared foundation of a stronger connective tissue that bridges opportunity and information silos in the DC area cooperative ecosystem.  We are seeking experienced purpose-driven community builders,… Read more: Organizational Visioning

DCCooperatives Topic Suggestions Your Name/Organization (Optional) First What topic(s) are you seeking more information on? CAPTCHA [gravityform action=”polls” id=”76″ mode=”poll” style=”red” cookie=”1 month” show_results_link=”true” display_results=”true” percentages=”true” counts=”true” ]

DC Cooperative Stakeholders Group Name and Organization (if applicable) What are you or your organization willing to offer to support the sustainability and growth of the DC Cooperative Stakeholders Group?* Fiscal Sponsorship Convening Space / Hosting Meeting Facilitation / Co-Facilitation Funding (ie – Stipends or Microgrants for costs of consented needs) Marketing Support (General Monthly… Read more: Meeting Time

Hello Co-op Stakeholders! Wanted to share that DSLBD will be participating in this upcoming panel about employee ownership and cooperatives tomorrow by the National League of Cities. You can register here. The session will be at 1 pm. Across the country, communities are faced with income and wealth inequality, exploitative working conditions, and displacement. As cities think about… Read more: Upcoming panel about employee ownership and cooperatives tomorrow by the National League of Cities

https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/small-business-resiliency-fund

Responsibilities: Lead, oversee, evaluate, and ensure the quality of trainings by and for the center; trainees will include center board/steering committee members, staff and volunteers, as well as clients of the center seeking assistance in starting up co-ops; assess which trainings can/should be done in-house, and which should be outsourced; oversee the design, development, and… Read more: Trainer

Responsibilities: Lead and oversee the development of a comprehensive feasibility analysis for the creation of a co-op development center; Participate in strategic planning and engagement of current and prospective stakeholders; Develop needs assessment, capacity analysis, and pro formas/ financial projections; Scope and estimate the design and implementation of prospective organizational systems and communications infrastructure, siting… Read more: Feasibility Research

Responsibilities: The Cooperative shall actively strive to develop a diverse Steering Committee that reflects the community it serves in regards to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, language, and gender. Provide assistance to steering committee members in determining suitable meeting locations, times, and developing best practices that maximize accessibility to safe spaces and welcoming… Read more: Inclusivity/Access

Responsibilities: The governance practitioners responsibilities and duties shall cover the following spectrum of activity. Planning for and organizing a Board Election Governance, risk management and compliance policy and practice: Advising directors and officers on director duties, the organization’s constitution, and other regulatory and statutory requirements. Advising the board (or governing body) on governance principles and… Read more: Governance/Organizer

Responsibilities: Be mainly responsible for engaging partners and identifying and leveraging the skills, expertise and assets of existing local and regional institutions and stakeholders. Help create an environment of trust and collaboration so that these institutions and stakeholders see the process as their own. Work closely with stakeholders from across the city to develop consensus… Read more: Partnership Engagement

Responsibilities: Responsible for the leading outreach to existing and newly forming cooperatives in DC and the organizations that work with them, to help ensure cooperative engagement and representation at Stakeholder meetings and events. Ensure cooperative engagement is inclusive: help identify barriers to participation for cooperatives and create and implement strategies to overcome barriers Work with… Read more: Co-op Engagement

Responsibilities: Communicate to members about “external” policies and legislation relevant to co-ops Be able to relate organization actions to DC co-op statutes and tax impacts Stay informed on economic development programs, legislation, and other opportunities benefiting co-ops Stay informed on co-op policies used by other cities, states, and federal government Identify policy advocacy opportunities for… Read more: Policy and Advocacy

Responsibilities: Work closely with committee and subcommittee members to develop and implement engagement and outreach strategies as related to Cooperative Stakeholder initiatives. Inform or solicit community feedback in the creation of shareable content (webinars, infographics, press releases, radio interviews, etc.) Provide public relations strategy and materials to develop clear, concise, targeted, and consistent messaging about… Read more: Outreach/Public