Cooperative Development Services - 40 Years!

40 Years of Cooperation (and Counting!)

Since 1985, Cooperative Development Services has been the Upper Midwest's pioneering force in cooperative development. As the nation's first regional cooperative development center created by the co-op community, we've proven that size doesn't determine impact—dedication does.

For four decades, CDS has been a vital convener and collaborator in our region's cooperative ecosystem. We've been a go-to resource, helping hundreds of cooperatives—of all sizes, and across agricultural, housing, worker, and food sectors—to develop their businesses, secure capital, and navigate challenges.  

Our Impact:

• We have created pathways to help startups on their journey.  CDS consultants and staff transformed the national food co-op sector by creating the 4 Cornerstones in 3 Stages Development Model, which has helped over 180 new food co-ops to open in the last 20 years.
• We have helped co-ops access capital. CDS pioneered a fiscal sponsorship program that has brought over $5 million in charitable donations/grants to co-ops to date. We've helped to secure additional $15 million through our grant writing for co-ops and related organizations.
• We have brought cooperators together for learning and community. For 20 years, CDS staff has created and refined an education and training program that serves over half of the nation’s senior housing co-ops. Over 90 co-ops and 400+ people participated in our 2025 national conference!

Our strength is in our deep relationships and our ability to connect cooperative enterprises with the resources and networks they need to thrive. The foundation of our approach is an unwavering belief that where cooperation is at work, communities prosper.

Meeting the Moment:

As we celebrate our legacy and look ahead to what comes next, we also face immediate challenges. Recent shifts in federal funding have created a potential budget gap of $200,000 just as we're positioned to meet a growing demand for our services. Sparked by the economic uncertainties of recent years, the interest in cooperative solutions is surging and our role as a trusted adviser and development partner has never been more vital. By supporting our 40th Anniversary Campaign, you can help to ensure that we have the operating and program resources to sustain and advance our valuable work.  

Attendees of the inaugural Minnesota Cooperative Summit, July 2025Serendipitously, our milestone year aligns with the International Year of Cooperatives, which commemorates the critical importance that co-ops play across the world.  Against that backdrop, we invite you to celebrate our past work and our impact yet to come, at whatever level makes sense for you.

Thank you!

The Cooperative Development Fund of CDS will use your gift to benefit our parent organization, Cooperative Development Services, in a manner consistent with the Fund's charitable purpose to support the wise use and development of cooperatively owned businesses.