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 Limited Cooperative Association Statutes An Update Limited Cooperative Association Statutes An Update

Traditionally, a business organized on a cooperative basis subordinates the interests of the capital investor to those of the business user, or patron.

Reports  Coop Legal
Cover Image Limited Cooperative Association Statutes An Update Limited Cooperative Association Statutes An Update

Besides offering limited liability to its members, both the LLC and the LCA also provide a choice in tax treatment. The organization may elect to be taxed as either a...

Reports  Coop What Is A Coop
Cover Image Long Term Success through Strategic Planning Long Term Success through Strategic Planning

To enhance the inherent potential of cooperatives in supporting society’s transition towards global socio-ecological sustainability, they must plan strategically. Strategic planning with this goal in mind requires organizations to describe...

Reports  Coop Strategic Planning
Cover image Madison Community Cooperative Member Handbook Madison Community Cooperative Member Handbook

What is co-operative living? The simplest answer is that it is people living together in a self-governing group so that everyone benefits from the group's success. This house is your...

Reports  Coop 101
Cover image Main Street Board Members Handbook Main Street Board Members Handbook

Your involvement on the board of directors will help bring about similar results for your community and make your revitalization organization’s vision a reality.

Reports  Board Handbook
Cover Image Main Street Executive Leadership Handbook Main Street Executive Leadership Handbook

Ultimately, you need to accomplish a significant amount of work in a manner that is both efficient and effective, while remaining true to your mission and values. Effective leadership centers...

Reports  Board Handbook
Cover Image Maintenance Planning in your Housing Cooperative Maintenance Planning in your Housing Cooperative

This Guide will help you plan and manage maintenance. It outlines the reasons why maintenance is important, the various types of maintenance, the steps in the ongoing maintenance cycle, and...

Reports  Coop Management
Cover Image Management Housing Assets Guide Management Housing Assets Guide

This guide provides information on building maintenance, capital planning, capital renewals (including the repair/replacement of existing building components), and new construction projects for non-profit housing societies and co-operatives. These resources...

Reports  Coop Tools
Cover Image Managing Collaboration Risks Managing Collaboration Risks

This booklet is designed to provide general information about collaboration risks, based on our extensive experience in handling claims and lawsuits against nonprofit organizations.

Reports  Board Leader
Cover Image Managing Your Cooperative equity Managing Your Cooperative Equity

This report provides information on how a cooperative can manage its equity capital to achieve and maintain proportionality of investment, regardless of the type of capital plan employed. It discusses...

Reports  Coop Finance
Cover Image MANP A Guide for Nonprofit Leaders MANP A Guide for Nonprofit Leaders

This document describes the basic elements and responsibilities of nonprofit board service. It was developed for the Maine Association of Nonprofits through a contract with Starboard Leadership Consulting, LLC. All...

Reports  Board Training
Cover Image marketing-handbook marketing-handbook

Policies and Procedures for Resident Selection and Occupancy

Reports  Coop Members
Cover Image Master your Meetings Master your Meetings

The member is the customer, and the club strives to keep the customer happy with the service it provides. In this case, the service is the club meeting.

Reports  Board Meeting Board
Cover Image MATCOM Notes for the field trainer MATCOM Notes for the Field Trainer

The manual provides guidelines on how to plan and conduct training activities. It discusses methods for assessing training needs and systems for organizing training in the field, with particular emphasis...

Reports  Board Training
Cover Image MATCOM Basic Economics of a Consumer co-operative MATCOM Basic Economics of a Consumer Cooperative

In this Learning Element, you will study the work of some co-operative shops. From their success or failure, you will learn:

Reports  Board Training
Cover Image MATCOM Easy Lettering for sings and Posters MATCOM Easy Lettering for Signs and Posters

You enter a nice shop. The first things that catch your attention are the attractive posters and price signs scattered throughout the shop. They function as "silent salesmen", and they...

Reports  Board Training
Cover Image MATCOM Material for training co-operative trainers MATCOM Material for Training Cooperative Trainers

Many co-operative trainers are recruited "from the field" with considerable experience and a solid knowledge of cooperation and business management. But for cooperative trainers, this is not enough. To work effectively...

Reports  Board Training
COver Image MATCOM Material for training of co-operative advisers MATCOM Material for Training of Cooperative Advisers

With the rapid growth of towns and cities, there is a pressing need for urban dwellers to have access to affordable shelter that offers reasonable living conditions. The same need...

Reports  Board Training
Cover Image MATCOM Price – Marking a learning element for staff of consumer cooperatives MATCOM Price – Marking a Learning Element for Staff of...

Most customers want to know the prices before deciding which goods to buy. And many want to read the prices themselves, rather than ask somebody else to tell them.

Reports  Board Training
Cover Image Matters Reserved for the board Matters Reserved for the Board

Matters required, or that are in the interests of a co‑op, can be decided only by the Board as a whole.

Reports  Board of Directors
Cover Image Meetings and decision-making Meetings and Decision Making

It is not easy to stand up for what is right, especially when everyone else is afraid to leave the comfortable path of conformity.

Reports  Coop Conflict Resolution
Cover Image Member Needs and Satisfaction Surveys Member Needs and Satisfaction Surveys

Please rate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements on a five-point scale, with '1' meaning you strongly disagree and '5' meaning you strongly agree. Circle the...

Reports  Coop Members
Cover Image members BCP_RuralCoopMag members BCP_RuralCoopMag

Staying Relevant Survey shows co-ops remain vital for members

Reports  Coop Members
Cover Image MHDC Developers Guide MHDC Developers Guide

This Developer’s Guide to MHDC Multifamily Programs (“Developer’s Guide”) is a reference document for developers, owners, and all members of the development team.

Reports  Coop 101

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.