A cooperative enterprise can take many forms, but the founding principles are all the same. Cooperatives around the world have adopted seven core principles which were officially enacted by the International Co-operative Alliance in 1995; however, the first official cooperative based on these seven principles traces back to Rochdale, England in 1844. The principles are as follows:
- Open and Voluntary Membership – No discrimination.
- Democratic Member Control – One member, one vote. No exceptions.
- Members’ Economic Participation – All members must invest in the coop.
- Autonomy & Independence – Never compromise member control!
- Education, Training & Information – For continual growth of the membership
- Cooperation among cooperatives – Collaborate strategically to meet members’ needs.
- Concern for community – Contribute to sustainable community development
All together these core principles outline a new way to do business that goes beyond recycling capitalism with schemes such as the triple bottom line. Cooperatives provide the framework for an inherent power dynamic shift that connects the people making the decisions in a tangible way to the people affected by the decisions.
Cooperatives provide a foundation for reciprocity where people are empowered to not only help themselves but also contribute to broader mission. The cooperative model is able to capture the concern one has for their own welfare and put it towards a greater whole that contributes to the welfare of other members.
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Resilient Growth 