The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC) is a trusted and unbiased voice on the cooperative business model serving the needs of cooperatives in Wisconsin and beyond. With a strong public service orientation and access to world-class university resources, we leverage research, education, and outreach capabilities to foster critical thinking and understanding about cooperatives. As the only U.S. university-based center that studies and supports all forms of cooperative business, UWCC provides valued education and research to a diverse range of communities.
Cooperative Development
Our team of cooperative development specialists is available to help you start a new co-op, strengthen an established co-op, or convert an existing business to the cooperative structure. If you are located in a rural area of Wisconsin, technical assistance may be covered by our USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant.
Cooperative Start-Up
UWCC assists start-up co-ops in the following areas: organizational development, member surveys, community and stakeholder meetings, feasibility analysis and business plans, membership drives, capitalization strategies, development of bylaws and articles of incorporation, board training, and policy development. Additionally, we provide referrals to legal, accounting, and other professional service providers. Please see our cooperative start-up page for more information.
Support for Established Cooperatives
Support to established cooperatives includes member training and education, strategic planning, meeting facilitation, board training, policy development, board and management evaluations, and referrals to appropriate legal, accounting, and other professional services.
Succession Planning and Cooperative Conversions
UWCC assists businesses looking to transition to the cooperative model. Support includes transition planning and timeline development, management and governance succession planning, and referrals to appropriate legal, accounting, and other professional services. Please see our Cooperative Conversion page for more resources.
Education and Training
We are passionate about bringing cooperators together to learn and inspire one another. UWCC develops regional workshops, national conferences, and tailored education for boards and visiting cooperative groups.
Consumer Cooperative Management Association Conference
This national event brings together food cooperative board members, managers, and staff to address issues impacting the grocery co-op sector and to share ideas and inspiration. CCMA features retail grocery experts, local co-op tours, peer-led breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. Learn more about the Consumer Cooperative Management Association Conference.
Governance Training
UWCC delivers various governance training programs to enhance the leadership skills of cooperative directors. The Governance Training Series for New Directors is a three-part series that focuses on roles and responsibilities of directors; cooperative finance; and tools for governance success.
Custom Board & Executive Training Programs
UWCC can design custom programs that address your cooperative’s current governance and strategy challenges, and help your board and management to lead your cooperative forward. UWCC also hosts international cooperative groups for education on the U.S. cooperative model and tours of local cooperatives.
Developing Future Cooperative Leadership
UWCC educates future cooperative leaders through campus courses and participation in the UniverCity Alliance, which connects Wisconsin municipalities to UW-Madison students to collaborate on finding practical solutions to community challenges. For more information, please see our Students page.
Webinars
UWCC has a diverse range of webinar recordings available covering key topics such as: Co-ops 101, governance, cooperative conversion, research, and how cooperatives can serve community needs.
Research
UWCCs’ approach to research embodies the Wisconsin Idea. Our relationships and interactions with new and established cooperatives guide our research questions; and our research informs our education, outreach, and cooperative development efforts. Our current research sheds light on cooperative governance practices, potential impacts on economic and social performance, as well as member participation and engagement.
Cooperative Governance Research Initiative
UWCC’s Cooperative Governance Research Initiative is a national, cross-sectoral study on cooperative governance practices. Its purpose is to generate robust data that empowers cooperatives across sectors to reflect upon and improve their governance structures, processes, and culture.
Research on Emerging Issues
Leveraging our connections with the cooperative community, we explore research projects on emerging issues relevant to members and key stakeholders. Example research topics include workplace democracy, member experiences, and the role of cooperatives in supporting members’ economic and social wellbeing.
For more information please see our Research page.
We’re here to help.
Support
Support for the UW Center for Cooperative activities includes funding from the following organizations. We are grateful for their support.
University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension, United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture – National Institute for Food and Agriculture, CHS Foundation, City of Madison, CoBank, National Cooperative Business Association, Cooperative Development Foundation, and individual donors.
UWCC's Mission
The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives seeks to increase understanding and encourage critical thinking about cooperatives by fostering scholarship and mutual learning among academics, the cooperative community, policy makers and the public.