Additional Resources
National Advocacy (USA)
National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) is the only national membership association of cooperative businesses across all sectors.
US Federation of Worker Co-ops is the national membership organization for worker cooperatives.
Platform Co-op Consortium is a community focused on advancing cooperative tech platforms owned by their users and workers.
The Cooperative Resource Ecosystem (U of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives) is a map of national, and regional cooperative development organizations, cooperative associations, and co-op friendly capital.
Global Advocacy
CLUSA is the global development arm of NCBA, providing cooperative development work and “technical assistance” in multiple countries.
International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is the global co-op membership association representing co-op associations and developers in every sector, across countries.
National Co-op Development and Technical Assistance
Cooperation Works Network is a network of cooperative developers. If you are looking to get started, look to see if you have a cooperative developer near you (search under start ups).
Democracy At Work Institute (DAWI) is a national organization dedicated to advancing worker cooperatives. DAWI provides consulting, research, and training, check out their resources page.
Columinate is a worker owned consulting group that offer co-ops, and co-ops in planning, skills, consulting and expertise on a variety of topics
The ICA Group is a consulting and research non-profit that offers technical assistance, business planning and feasibility studies.
Food Co-op Initiative is only for food co-op development but they do a great job.
Project Equity is a non profit focused on helping convert existing businesses to worker ownership.
USFWC Startup Clinics and Guides offer worker co-ops free videos and mini guides on startup topics plus pay-for-service technical assistance.
Guide to Indigenous Community Cooperative Development from Cooperative Development Services and Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance.
Regional Co-op Development and Technical Assistance (East to West)
Cooperative Development Institute (ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY & NJ)
Vermont Employee Ownership Center (VT)
Keystone Development Center (PA)
Carolina Common Enterprise (NC)
Cooperation Group (MI - Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck)
Indiana Cooperative Development Center (IN)
Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KY)
University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (WI)
Illinois Cooperative Development Center (IL)
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives (MS)
Cooperative Development Services (MN, WI, IA)
Latino Economic Development Center (MN)
Nebraska Cooperative Development Center (NE)
Texas Rural Cooperative Center(TX)
Austin Cooperative Business Association (TX - Austin)
Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center (CO)
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (CO)
Cooperative Catalyst of New Mexico (NM)
Montana Cooperative Development Center (MT)
Lake County Community Development Corporation (MT)
Northwest Cooperative Development Center (ID, OR, WA)
Financing
Equitable Economy Fund is an equity fund designed to provide capital that can accelerate cooperatively-owned and shared ownership companies, while also providing a financial return to investors.
Shared Capital is a national CDFI loan fund, and cooperative itself, that provides financing for cooperatives across a wide variety of sectors.
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF) is a loan fund that provides financing with a primary focus on food, housing and worker ownership.
Working World is a loan fund that provides financing primarily to worker owned and employee focused cooperatives.
Seed Commons is a national network of geographically focused loan funds (including the Working World) mostly focused on worker ownership.
Cooperative Fund of the Northeast is a CDFI loan fund that provides financing for many cooperatives across the New England states.
Momentus Capital is a large business lender, equity fund, and impact fund with over 3 billion in combined assets that provides financial services to underserved markets in the United States.
General Startup Resources
Start.coop’s Lean Co-op Course
Steve Blank's Free Lean Business Class
SCORE (provides free mentoring to entrepreneurs)