CDI Services and Programs

CDI services and programs

Cooperative Development Institute
P.O. Box 244
South Deerfield, MA 01373
phone: 1-877- NE COOPS, 413-665-1271
fax: 413-541-8300
info@cdi.coop

The Keep Local Farms program connects consumers with New England dairy farmers through promotion of all dairy products, education on farm activities and the potential for consumers to directly support dairy farmer-members of the New England Family Dairy Farm Cooperative. If you are interested in local food production, productive open land and your local community – click to learn more about the Keep Local Farms program.

The following services are provided by CDI to new co-op start-up projects and existing cooperatives on a fee-for-service basis. CDI can assist in securing grant and loan funds to support the development process. Select projects may be eligible for reduced-rate services under a USDA Cooperative Development grant.

Putney Food Coop (Cooperative Development Institute)

Member-owners of the Putney Food Cooperative in Putney, VT. www.putneycoop.com

Education and Training Programs

Through leadership and development programs for boards, managers and staff delivered in regional meetings, conferences, workshops and study tours, we bring people together from different cooperative industries to share knowledge, generate new ideas and find new strategies for addressing common problems.

CDI offers a range of education and training programs designed to help your staff, board and members work together effectively to bring more benefits to your members and strengthen your bottom line. CDI can customize training programs to meet your co-op's specific needs or representatives from your co-op can attend open-enrollment programs designed for managers, staff or boards of directors.

Consulting Services

CDI’s consulting programs bring expert support to start-ups and existing cooperatives. Drawing from our expertise in business development, market research, marketing, organizational development and learning systems, we give clients support to accomplish the business goals they set for themselves.

Creating an organization that functions effectively and learns quickly requires systems to help all stakeholders understand, evaluate, analyze and improve individual and business performance. Regular planning sessions, reports and consultations ensure co-op members own and control the development process.

Whether working with a start-up steering committee or the Board and staff of an existing co-op, CDI will help you develop systems to enhance worker satisfaction, business outcomes and customer delight.

Start-up Services and Business Development Services

CDI provides complete project management services to co-op startup projects. We also work with exisiting cooperatives to strengthen and expand operations. Services include:

organizational development
feasibility study and strategy analysis
business planning
strategic planning
market research and development
marketing plans
financial systems
job desriptions
communications
accounting
consultant and staff oversight
financing support
product and service development
start-up operations planning and support
business expansion
board training
conflict management

Project Management

CDI offers project management services to new co-op startup projects, from strategic planning, communications, facilitation, and accounting to consultant and staff oversight. Regular planning sessions, reports and consultations ensure co-op members own and control the development process.

Legal Support

CDI has created a strategic partnership with cooperative legal experts who have vast experience working with cooperatives across the country. They can help get your cooperative started with needed legal documents including incorporation, by-laws and membership agreements.

You can also get assistance navigating your cooperative through tax, anti-trust and securities laws. Our legal staff can help existing co-ops with equity agreements, by-law changes and other legal issues.

Financial Systems Design

CDI can assist you in analyzing your financials, setting up your books and developing your financial systems.

Partnership Building

Other cooperatives, companies, and organizations in your area are in a position to provide valuable support to your cooperative. CDI can help you analyze your options and build strategic partnerships to ensure those relationships work well for you.

Membership Development

Members make a cooperative. Member buy-in during the initial development stages of a new cooperative is critical for the cooperative's ongoing success. CDI can help you design communication strategies, effective meetings, and project plans that build membership ownership and help members decide what control they need and what they need to delegate. Co-ops across the region have experimented with many membership development strategies. Learn what has worked and what hasn't and benefit from CDI's membership development expertise.

Fundraising/Financing

CDI, a tax-exempt 501(c)3, can help you obtain grants and low-cost financing.

Marketing and Public Relations

A strong marketing plan identifies where and how you will market your goods and services. Emphasis is placed on educating your market about who you are and what you produce. Target markets are identified and analyzed. A strategy for reaching those markets is clearly identified. Promotional materials and advertisements can be produced to help you market your goods and services.

A strong public relations campaign can strengthen your cooperative by helping you build relationships with future members, organizing partners, government entities, financial partners, employees and vendors.

CDI can assist you in developing communication systems that ensure your members and staff (once they're hired) all have the information they need to participate in the start-up process.

Strategic Planning

Key to your survival is a dynamic, agile strategic planning process. Use CDI's strategic planning resources to ensure you have:

the most up-to-date competitor analysis
access to leading experts in targeted industries
latest market research
an inclusive process that builds on the best thinking of your key stakeholders and identifies a clear direction for the future

Human Resource Support

Programs can be developed for your cooperative to help create a supportive and efficient workplace for staff including:

Staff Policy Manual
Job Descriptions
Organizational Charts
Performance Evaluation Systems
Pay System, Benefits Package
Education and Training Programs Design
Recognition and Rewards
Team Building
Innovation

Board Resources

CDI offers programs that help your cooperative board add value to your organization each time they meet:

Model Board Policy Outline
Board Development trainings
Board Planning & Evaluation Tools
Effective Board Meeting Facilitation
Board/Management Relations: Synergy or Tragedy?

Organizational Development

Organizational Evaluation and Strategic Planning
Performance Assessment and Development
Role Analysis
Succession Planning
Leadership Development
Supervisory Skills

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