Berendson Academy – Cooperative Education and Support

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Search 1,388 free articles, guides, books, reports, journals, cheat sheets and sample forms for housing cooperatives. Every resource is free to read and download.

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Cover Image Qualifications of the Board Members Qualifications of the Board Members

Let me address your responsibilities as the nominating committee. The bylaws state that you are to identify, evaluate, and recommend qualified candidates to serve on our Board.

Article  Coop Committees
Cover Image Questions and Answers Housing Charge Increases Questions and Answers about Housing Charge Increases

Can't our co-op cut expenses instead of upping the housing charges every year?

Article  Coop Finance
Cover Image Questions and Answers Underfunded Reserves Questions and Answers Underfunded Reserves

The Agency says our co-op's capital replacement reserve is underfunded. What does that mean?

Article  Coop Finance
Cover Image Questions to Ask at Board Meeting Questions to Ask at Board Meeting

The board is convened for the purpose of governance. However, meetings often deteriorate into administrative discussions and committee work.

Article  Board Meeting Board
Cover Image Quick Tips for an Effective Meeting Agenda Quick Tips for an Effective Meeting Agenda

It is no secret that some board meetings can run longer than they need to.

Article  Board Meeting Agenda
Cover Image Recommended Board Practices Recommended Board Practices

The nonprofit boards best equipped to lead their organizations are self-aware, reflective of the larger community the organization serves, and function in constructive partnership with their chief executives.

Article  Board Tools
Cover Image rent_arrears policy rent arrears policy

Housing Co-ops depend on the rent collected from their tenants for their main source of income. Therefore, the Co-operative's policy is to maintain the level of arrears at an absolute...

Article  Coop Policy
Cover Image rent policies rent policies

These rules are for co-ops managed by general meetings. This means that the whole membership forms the governing body of the co-op.

Article  Coop Policy
Cover Image Replacement Reserve guide Replacement Reserve guide

The replacement reserve is a fund kept by each housing sponsor under the terms of its operating agreement with CMHC.

Article  Coop Finance
Cover Image Resident Retention Resident Retention

You and I work in an industry that experiences significant fluctuations in occupancy, and those same fluctuations also apply to our cash flow.

Article  Coop Policy
Cover Image Revolving Patron-Member Equity in Cooperatives Revolving Patron-Member Equity in Cooperatives

Cooperatives are organized to provide goods or services to their patron member owners, not financial returns to investors.

Article  Coop Legal
Cover Image Rich History of Associations Rich History of Associations

In fact, the farmers drafted the document inside Carpenters Hall, a building built by a trades guild. Guilds, groups of self-employed craftsmen, are precursors to associations.

Article  Coop History
Cover Image Role of the board Role of the Board

Briefing document outlining the duties and responsibilities of a co-operative board

Article  Board of Directors
Cover Image Rules of Engagement Rules of Engagement-

The rules of engagement have been developed to communicate cultural expectations and preferred behavior for governance

Article  Board of Directors
Cover Image Running Good Board Meetings Running Good Board Meetings

What follows is a general overview of the responsibilities of your board of directors,  with special emphasis placed on improving your regular board meetings.

Article  Board Meeting Board
Cover Image Sabotaging the Consent Agenda Sabotaging the Consent Agenda

The board chair said, “To save time, we will use a consent agenda. We will be distributing routine reports in advance. I’m asking you to prepare for meetings by doing...

Article  Board Meeting Board
Cover Image Save 200 Hours Year on Board Meetings Save 200 Hours Year on Board Meetings

Are board meetings depleting association resources and staff time? The culprit may be meeting frequency.

Article  Board Meeting Board
Cover Image Self and Board Evaluation Self and Board Evaluation

You can take this evaluation form back to your Board and let everyone have the opportunity to raise their "level of awareness".

Article  Board Evaluation
Cover Image Self Audit of Common Standards Self-Audit of Common Standards

The nonprofit community in the United States is well established with commonly accepted practices and government-required standards.

Article  Coop Finance
Cover Image Self-Audit of Common Standards for U.S. Nonprofit Organizations Self-Audit of Common Standards for U.S. Nonprofit Organizations

The nonprofit community in the United States is well established with commonly accepted practices and government-required standards.

Article  Board Evaluation
Cover Image Set an Agenda and Objectives Ahead of Time Set an Agenda and Objectives Ahead of Time

Establishing a concise agenda and objectives before the meeting begins is crucial.

Article  Board Meeting Board

About the library

What you will find

Our Download Center is a one-stop hub for cooperative knowledge, curated from trusted cooperative and housing organizations. Whether you want research-based insight or practical management tools, it supports informed decisions and effective leadership.

Governance and legal frameworks

Understand your duties, responsibilities and ethical obligations.

Financial and business planning

Learn strategies to keep your cooperative strong and sustainable.

Operations and maintenance

Gain insights into maintaining property value and community trust.

Marketing and member engagement

Explore proven ways to build community participation and satisfaction.

Sector-specific studies

Dive into focused research on housing, agriculture, finance and more.