The Cooperative Foundation Announces 2008 Funding Priorities
The Cooperative Foundation announced funding priorities for 2008.  Funding priorities are:

• Cooperative education related speakers at meetings and conventions;
• Research in cooperatives;
• Development and distribution of cooperative education materials and programs.
• Attendance at cooperative education programs through support of the Ralph K. Morris Foundation
• Innovative cooperative development projects in collaboration with other funders.

The Cooperative Foundation Awards $26,500 in Education and Development Grants
The Cooperative Foundation funded five cooperative education and development grants totaling $26,500 during the spring meeting of the foundation’s trustees.  The Cooperative Communicators Association, Cooperative Development Foundation, North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO), Ralph K. Morris Foundation, and US Workers Cooperative Federation received funding for their projects.

Cooperative Communicators Association was awarded $3000 to fund the fellowships and grants program that provides support for students and CCA members to attend the organization’s annual Institute.

Cooperative Development Foundation received a grant of $5000 to support Research on the Economic Impact of Cooperatives, a research project being conducted by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, Madison.

NASCO received $4500 in support of the Emerging Cooperative Leaders program.  The program brings together emerging leaders from all cooperative sectors for cooperative and leadership training.

Ralph K. Morris Foundation was granted     $7500 to the Foundation’s scholarship fund.  In 2009 The Cooperative Foundation will stop providing scholarship support directly to individual grantees and instead support cooperative education scholarships through support of the Morris Foundation scholarship fund.

US Workers Cooperative Federation was awarded $6500 to support cooperative education speakers at its biannual institute in New Orleans and development of a technical assistance network for worker cooperatives developers.

The Cooperative Foundation Awards $16,000 in Education and Development Grants
The Cooperative Foundation funded five cooperative education and development grants totaling over $16,000.  The Senior Cooperative Foundation, North Country Cooperative Foundation, National Farmers Union, Minnesota Grain and Feed Association, and the Coretta Scott King Center received funding for their projects in late December 2007 and early January 2008.

Senior Cooperative Foundation was awarded $8000 to fund a feasibility study of shared purchasing group among existing senior housing cooperatives.

Northcountry Cooperative Foundation’s Northside Food Project received a grant of $2500 to develop a best practices document for inner city co-op development projects.

Coretta Scott King Center, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH, received $1111 for publication of photos and interviews with Minnesota food cooperative leaders. 

Minnesota Grain and Feed Association’s Cooperative Directors Workshop was granted $1000 to cover expenses associated with cooperative education speaker.

The National Farmers Union College Conference on Cooperatives was awarded $3500 to support program costs.

Mead is New President of The Cooperative Foundation (Mead 2007)
Leslie Mead was named president of The Cooperative Foundation by the board of trustees last month. 

Mead has worked with cooperatives for more than 20 years, beginning her career at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington DC. She held several positions at NCFC including vice president of legal, tax and accounting policy and vice president of education.  Since 2002, she has served as executive administrator of the Association of Cooperative Educators. She is a graduate of Drake University School of Journalism, Des Moine, IA, and Indiana University-Bloomington School of Law.  She lives in Arlington, VA with her husband and two sons. 

Mead replaces William J. Nelson, who had served in a dual capacity as president of The Cooperative Foundation and the CHS Foundation in Inver Grove Heights, MN.  The expanded activities of both foundations created the need for the new structure, allowing each foundation to better serve its mission. 

“William’s contribution to The Cooperative Foundation and cooperative education can’t be overstated,” said Patricia Keough-Wilson, past chair, board of trustees.  “He’s been a careful steward of the foundation’s endowment and supported innovations in cooperative education through strategic funding and encouraging collaboration and formation of partnerships among cooperative organizations.”

Stoltz to Chair Board of Trustees (Stoltz 2007)
Twin City area credit union leader Dan Stoltz is the new chair of The Cooperative Foundation Board of Trustees.  He was elected by the board of trustees during the Foundation's annual meeting in September.

Stoltz, chief financial officer, Twin City Co-ops Federal Credit Union, Falcon Heights, MN, is a certified public account and holds of a master in finance from the University of St. Thomas.  He serves on the Lino Lakes City Council and on the boards of the Lindbergh Foundation, Northwestern College and Radio, Midwest Challenge and Presbyterian Homes.

Stoltz replaced Patricia Keough-Wilson as chair.  Keough-Wilson will continue to serve on the executive committee.  She is retired director of communications of Minn-Dak Farmer Cooperatives, Wahpeton, ND and owns a freelance public relations and editing firm, Plains Harvest Communications. She makes her residences in North Dakota and Florida. 

The Board of Trustees named Brenda Forman vice chair and Gail Graham secretary/treasurer. Forman is chief administrative officer, South Dakota Association of Cooperatives, Pierre, SD, and Graham is general manager, Mississippi Market, St. Paul, MN.

The Cooperative Foundation awards $13,700 in grants (Summer 2007)
The Cooperative Foundation approved the funding of four cooperative education-based grants to the Consumer Cooperative Management Association, Minnesota Association of Cooperatives Education Foundation, National Cooperative Business Association and NCERA 194 Research on Cooperatives.

Consumer Cooperative Management Association (CCMA)

CCMA received a $5,200 grant to support the 2007 CCMA Annual Conference.  Designed by the University of Wisconsin, the conference provided training for directors, managers and staff of retail food cooperatives with a focus on “co-op and community sustainability.” 

Minnesota Association of Cooperatives (MAC) Education Foundation

The MAC Education Foundation received a $2,500 grant to sponsor the seventh Annual Senior Cooperative Housing Conference, which provides educational resources for senior cooperative housing members, board members, managers and developers/professionals.  Senior housing cooperatives provide new homes in enlivened environments for their members.

National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA)

The Cooperative Foundation approved a $5,000 grant to NCBA for a national government research project on cooperatives.  The project will collect and analyze economic data on cross-sector cooperative activity and identify a strategy to develop research of topics leading to a deeper understanding of the impact of cooperatives.  The grant is part of a private match that was awarded to the University of Wisconsin in October 2006.

NCERA 194 Research on Cooperatives

The NCERA 194 Research on Cooperatives received a $1,000 grant to support six students and/or faculty members at the Kansas State University to attend both the NCERA -194 Research on Cooperatives Annual Meeting and the Farmer Cooperatives Conference in November 2007.  The meetings target directors, managers, service providers and educators in the Midwest.

Cihak elected to The Cooperative Foundation Board of Trustees (Winter 2006)
Connie L. Cihak, a southern Minnesota producer and former Land O’ Lakes board member, was elected as a trustee of The Cooperative Foundation at the October 2006 board of trustees meeting.

Cihak of Lonsdale, Minn., joins the 11-member governing body of The Cooperative Foundation, which represents a diverse array of cooperatives in agriculture, housing, food, electric and credit unions in the Upper Midwest.

“We are pleased to have Connie join our team of cooperative leaders,” says William J. Nelson, The Cooperative Foundation president.  “She not only brings experience, but has the drive and passion to help direct the future of cooperative business.”

Her background includes nine years as a Land O’ Lakes board member.  She also has experience as a spokesperson for the Agricultural Council of America; member of the Task Force for Minnesota Dairy Leaders Roundtable; and volunteered for the US AID project in Uganda, Africa through the Land O’ Lakes International Development Division.

A Dakota County native, she was raised on her grandparent’s hog and cash crop farm.  After owning a hobby farm while working full time, Cihak and her husband decided to focus completely on agriculture by beginning a dairy operation from scratch.

The Cihak’s farm hosted the Minnesota Association of Co-ops congressional tours, as well as international tours from Poland, Bolivia, New Zealand, Bulgaria and Russia.

The Cooperative Foundation awards $9,600 in grants (Fall 2006)
The Cooperative Foundation recently approved the funding of three cooperative education-based grants to the North American Students of Cooperation, Cooperative Development Foundation and Southern New Hampshire University.

North American Students of Cooperation

The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) received a $4,600 grant to expand the organization’s website content to include an online resource library and co-op directory for gathering and sharing information.  The overall goal is to increase awareness of the cooperative movement and of NASCO to students, youth and communities at large.  The funds will assist NASCO in providing educational resources accessible to all geographic locations.

Cooperative Development Foundation

The Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) received a $2,000 grant to sponsor the 2006 annual online auction “Celebration of Co-op Art & Craft,” Oct. 9 – 31, 2006.  This reflects the auctions first year of existence.  Sponsorship was used to feature the work of various arts and craft co-op members including jewelry, quilts, blankets, baskets, ceramics, paintings, woodworking, glass and more. 

Southern New Hampshire University, School of Community Economic Development

The Cooperative Foundation has approved a $3,000 grant to the Southern New Hampshire University School of Community Economic Development. The grant will allow Chris Clamp, Ph.D., to conduct research on worker cooperatives in the Midwest.  The research findings will be published and provide background for individuals who are involved with community economic development efforts.

East End Food Co-op receives grant for cooperatives discussion course (6/2006)
The East End Food Co-op has received a $1,550 grant for a discussion course on cooperatives.

Together, the National Co-op Grocers Association, a cooperative development organization, a university and more than 24 food cooperatives are organizing an education program designed as a discussion course on cooperatives, available online or with written materials. Support will be used for preparation expenses, including the initial printing, for the June workshop at the 2006 Consumer Cooperative Management Association Conference.

The ultimate goal of the course is to engage co-op owners and members in a productive, fun and innovative format. The program will allow individuals to understand the differences between cooperatives and other business enterprises.

Canadian Association for Studies in Cooperation Conference receives funding (6/2006)
The The Cooperative Foundation has awarded a $2,250 grant to sponsor the Canadian Association for Studies in Cooperation (CASC) annual conference at the Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities. The sponsorship will be used to provide financial support for presenters at the conference and to provide refreshments for a special gathering of the participants.

"Cooperating in a Global Economy: challenges to be faced, lessons to be learned", is the theme for the 2006 conference. Presentations will be given by national and international scholars, as well as individuals who assist in developing cooperatives. The Cooperative Foundation will have the opportunity to present a paper on the evolution of education on cooperatives in the U.S. at the event.

The CASC annual conference will provide sufficient information and examples to all attendees for use in their own cooperative business industries. Five years ago, CASC was primarily focused on Canadian researchers and practitioners. This has since changed to include members from the U.S. and international organizations. CASC leaders say, "The Cooperative Foundation's contribution will serve as a stepping stone to further development of our membership base to include U.S. students, academics and practitioners."

Consumer Cooperative Management Association receives funding (6/2006)
The Consumer Cooperative Management Association (CCMA) received a $3,750 grant from The Cooperative Foundation to sponsor the 2006 annual conference in Atlanta, Ga., June 8-10. This year reflects 50 years of existence for CCMA.

The Cooperative Foundation is a long time supporter of the CCMA annual conference. Sponsorship will be used to assist in the payment of registration fees for participants from low-income or emerging cooperatives, as well as support of the overall program.

The CCMA promotes a variety of manager and director aspects, including training, inspiration, challenge and a good time.

New cooperative textbook receives funding (6/2006)
The Cooperative Foundation has approved $2,000 grant to NCERA-194 for a new cooperative textbook. The grant will support a Co-op Textbook Working Group that will congregate for two days.

During this time period, Michael Boland, Kansas State University professor, will be the lead editor. The working group is anticipated to consist of ten faculty members, which will be paired to evaluate the chapters written. All suggestions and comments will be incorporated into the chapters and returned to the authors for final approval. The ending result will be an integrated text book designed as an educational textbook.

The National Food and Agribusiness Management Education Commission, which Boland co-chaired, successfully experimented with the format.

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