Berendson Academy – Cooperative Education and Support

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Cover Image An Assessment of Loan Regulations for Rural Housing Cooperatives An Assessment of Loan Regulations for Rural Housing Cooperatives

USDA’s Rural Housing Service has a loan program in place to provide assistance for rural housing cooperatives. Although the program has been available for many years, it has been used...

Guides  Coop Finance
Cover Image An Evaluation of Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives An Evaluation of Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives

Limited equity cooperatives (LECs) are evaluated within the following framework: 1) the effect of resident participation on operating costs, 2) the disutility of time and effort that members devote to...

Guides  Coop Affordable
Cover Image An Executive Directors Guide to Financial Leadership An Executive Directors Guide to Financial Leadership

Financial management is the collection of financial data, the production of financial reports, and the solution of near-term financial issues. Financial leadership, on the other hand, is guiding a nonprofit...

Guides  Coop Finance
Cover Image Annual Evaluation of the Executive Director Annual Evaluation of the Executive Director

Because the executive director is so central to the agency's success or failure, the board's evaluation of the executive director is an important component of the board's responsibilities. However, evaluations...

Guides  Board Evaluation
Cover Image Base Capital Financing of Cooperatives Base Capital Financing of Cooperatives

Management of equity capital is the most important financial activity in a cooperative. Successful management of equity requires a responsive and objective capitalization program. A base capital plan, because it...

Guides  Coop Finance
Cover Image Board and Committee Roles and Responsibilities Board and Committee Roles and Responsibilities

The Board is responsible for managing the affairs of the Chapter, including its direction, program priorities, resource allocations, and both financial performance and planning. The ultimate responsibility for the Chapter's...

Guides  Coop Committees
Cover Image Board Impact Workbook Board Impact Workbook

Serving on a board of directors is an important responsibility. This guide informs volunteer leaders about the unique aspects of governance in a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization. The information is applicable...

Guides  Board Tools
Cover Image Board Recruitment for Nonprofit Organizations a Sample Handbook Board Recruitment for Nonprofit Organizations a Sample Handbook

A well-functioning Board of Directors is essential for nonprofit organizations not only to meet legal requirements, but also to successfully achieve their goals. It is the Board’s responsibility to ensure...

Guides  Board Tools
Cover Image Boardroom Behaviours in Cooperatives Boardroom Behaviors in Cooperatives

An effective board depends on several key areas: having the right skills and experience in the board’s composition to deliver the strategy and objectives of the co-operative; developing recruitment processes...

Guides  Board Meeting Board
Cover Image CA Landscape-Housing Cooperatives CA Landscape-Housing Cooperatives

California Cooperatives: today's landscape of Housing Cooperatives

Guides  Coop Governance
Cover Image Choosing a Professional Association Executive Choosing a Professional Association Executive

Associations, by their very nature, present distinct challenges to management and governance. Successful associations operate with an overarching value on participating elected leaders.

Guides  Coop Management
Cover Image Choosing Management for your Coop Choosing Management for your Coop

The housing your co-op owns is a valuable asset that provides an essential service to your members and the broader community. Responsible board members want to make sure that this...

Guides  Coop Management
Cover Image Citizens Preparedness Guide Citizens Preparedness Guide

The Citizens’ Preparedness Guide provides suggestions for preparedness in our homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, places of worship, and public areas. These recommendations stem from the attacks against our country, but...

Guides  Coop Emergency Preparedness
Cover Image reference-guide CMHC reference-guide

CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance for Multi-Unit Residential Properties

Guides  Coop 101
Cover Image Code of Conduct for Directors Code of Conduct for Directors

The standards of personal behavior and conduct required of directors of co-operatives.

Guides  Coop Governance
Cover Image Code of Governance Code of Governance

Governance is the task of defining the goals and standards of an organization and ensuring that effective management and other structures are in place to enable the organization to achieve...

Guides  Coop Governance
Cover Image Committee Volunteer Request Forms Committee Volunteer Request Forms

Committees are essential for most associations, chambers, and nonprofits. They have multiple benefits, including:

Guides  Coop Committees
Cover Image Condominium & Homeowner Association Board Member Handbook Condominium & Homeowner Association Board Member Handbook

We have focused our practice on condominium law, Common Interest Community Associations, landlord/tenant law, and the cooperative form of ownership. Additionally, we represent clients in business matters, including real estate...

Guides  Board Tools
Cover Image Conflict Communication Skills Conflict Communication Skills

‘Noise’ can occur in the sender, in the receiver, or in the channel. ‘Noise’ means anything that gets in the way of the receiver's understanding of the sender’s meaning.

Guides  Coop Conflict Resolution
Cover Image Conflict Meeting and Decision Making Conflict Meeting and Decision Making

Meetings are a crucial tool for democratic management. Effective meetings result in clear, agreed, and delegated decisions to which everyone is committed. They should be reasonably short (not more than...

Guides  Coop Conflict Resolution
Cover Image Conflict Organisational Growth and Development Conflict Organizational Growth and Development

Booklet 4 explores the tensions that can arise in a co-operative development and identifies tools, techniques, and approaches that will help as the co-operative experience grows and changes.

Guides  Coop Conflict Resolution
Cover Image Conflict Role and Responsibilities of the Board Conflict Role and Responsibilities of the Board

This booklet describes how misunderstandings or unchecked assumptions about the role and responsibilities of the board can lead to organizational conflict.

Guides  Coop Conflict Resolution

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.