Cooperative Development Foundation

The Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) is a United States charitable organization focused on strengthening cooperatives and expanding cooperative economic development. Organized as a 501(c)(3), it supports cooperative formation, growth, education, and community resilience through grants, revolving loan funds, scholarships, fundraising programs, and sector-recognition activities. Rather than operating as a consumer-facing product company, CDF functions as a philanthropic and development platform for the cooperative movement. The organization was established in 1944 under the name The Freedom Fund. Its earliest work was international in scope and connected to the development and reconstruction of cooperatives in Europe after the Second World War. In that period, the organization helped provide resources for cooperative rebuilding and wrote the check that created the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, an initiative associated with economic relief for postwar Europe. The organization later adopted the name Cooperative Development Foundation during the 1980s, reflecting a stronger emphasis on cooperative development in the United States while retaining support for selected international efforts. CDF's work is delivered through designated funds and sector programs. Its Kagawa Fund provides gap financing for housing cooperatives, helping address capital needs that may not be met through conventional sources. The Jacob Kaplan Fund supports the development of senior housing cooperatives. The Howard Bowers Fund provides scholarships for training food-cooperative employees, managers, and board members. Together, these funds address different institutional needs: access to capital, cooperative housing development, and leadership capability within food cooperatives. The foundation also administers the United Co-op Appeal, a workplace-giving initiative supported by the Nationwide Foundation. The appeal directs contributions to organizations working across cooperative development, international development, community finance, worker and housing cooperatives, agricultural and rural development, and cooperative education. Organizations identified as beneficiaries include ACDI/VOCA, CHF International, the CDF Fund, Cooperative Development Institute, Cooperative Development Services, the Cooperative Emergency Fund, the Cooperative Fund of New England, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, the CooperationWorks! Scholarship Fund, the ICA Group, the MSC Fund, the Jim Jones Fund, the NCBA Fund, the National Network of Forest Practitioners, the NRECA International Foundation, the Northwest Cooperative Development Center, the Shirley K. Sullivan Fund, and Prospera, formerly known as the Women's Action to Gain Economic Security. CDF has also served as a coordinating and fundraising institution during crises. It played a role in organizing cooperative relief following the September 11 attacks and raised nearly $200,000 for economic recovery after the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. These activities illustrate the foundation's broader view of cooperatives as community-owned institutions that can contribute to recovery, employment, housing, and local economic stability. In addition to administering financial and development programs, CDF administers the Cooperative Hall of Fame, an annual recognition program honoring people who have made notable contributions to the cooperative movement. The foundation is partnered with the National Cooperative Business Association, linking its philanthropic work with a major U.S. cooperative-sector association. CDF's positioning is therefore institutional and movement-oriented: it provides funding, capacity building, recognition, and coordination for cooperatives rather than selling conventional commercial goods or services.

The Cooperative Development Foundation traces its origins to 1944, when it was established as The Freedom Fund. The organization emerged in the context of wartime and postwar concern for the survival and reconstruction of cooperatives. Its initial orientation was international, particularly toward cooperative development and reconstruction in Europe after the Second World War. One of the organization's early contributions was connected with the creation of the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, an effort that provided economic relief to Europe. CDF wrote the check that created that organization, placing the foundation at an early junction between cooperative action, international relief, and postwar reconstruction. This work reflected a broad understanding of cooperatives as tools for restoring livelihoods and distributing economic resources through member-controlled institutions. During the 1980s, The Freedom Fund changed its name to the Cooperative Development Foundation. The new name corresponded with a shift toward domestic cooperative development in the United States. Although the foundation continued to support international work, its principal focus became strengthening U.S. cooperatives and encouraging the formation and development of cooperative enterprises in areas such as housing, food, community economic development, and rural development. CDF's later institutional role developed around several specialized funds. The Kagawa Fund was created to provide gap financing for housing cooperatives. The Jacob Kaplan Fund was directed toward senior housing cooperatives, while the Howard Bowers Fund supported scholarships for training food-cooperative staff and boards. These programs allowed the foundation to address recurring challenges faced by cooperatives: difficulty obtaining development capital, the need for specialized housing models, and the importance of trained governance and management. The foundation also expanded its role as a convener and distributor of philanthropic support. Through the United Co-op Appeal, a workplace-giving program supported by the Nationwide Foundation, CDF raised money for a group of organizations involved in cooperative development and related international, rural, community, worker, housing, and education initiatives. The appeal created a shared fundraising channel for organizations that might otherwise have had limited access to broad workplace-giving networks. CDF became involved in cooperative responses to major crises as well. It helped organize relief activity by cooperatives after the September 11 attacks. Following the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, it raised close to $200,000 for economic recovery. These efforts extended the foundation's mission beyond long-term institution building into emergency support and community recovery, emphasizing the role of cooperative organizations in rebuilding local economies. Another enduring part of CDF's work is administration of the Cooperative Hall of Fame. The annual program recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cooperative movement and helps preserve the movement's institutional memory. The foundation's partnership with the National Cooperative Business Association further connects its grantmaking and program administration with national cooperative advocacy and business-development networks. Today, CDF is best understood as a charitable support institution rather than a conventional operating business. Its activities center on mobilizing philanthropic resources, administering purpose-specific funds, supporting cooperative education and leadership, assisting recovery efforts, and promoting the social and economic value of cooperative ownership. Its historical evolution—from postwar international relief to a primarily U.S.-focused cooperative-development role—has retained a consistent emphasis on member-owned enterprise and community economic resilience.

• 1980

  The organization adopts the Cooperative Development Foundation name

  [1]Cooperative Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1980s, The Freedom Fund changes its name to the Cooperative Development Foundation as its emphasis shifts toward domestic cooperative development in the United States.

• 1944

  The Freedom Fund is established

  [1]Cooperative Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization is founded as The Freedom Fund to support cooperative development and reconstruction efforts, initially with a strong international focus.

• Support for the creation of the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe

  [1]Cooperative Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization writes the check that creates the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, an initiative associated with postwar economic relief in Europe.

• Specialized cooperative funds are administered

  [1]Cooperative Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  CDF administers the Kagawa Fund, Jacob Kaplan Fund, and Howard Bowers Fund, addressing housing finance, senior housing development, and food-cooperative training.

• Cooperative relief initiatives expand

  [1]Cooperative Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  CDF helps organize cooperative relief following the September 11 attacks and later raises nearly $200,000 for recovery after the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.

• United Co-op Appeal supports cooperative organizations

  [1]Cooperative Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  CDF administers a workplace-giving program supported by the Nationwide Foundation that raises funds for organizations promoting cooperative development.

A philanthropic infrastructure organization for the U.S. cooperative movement, combining targeted funds, grants, scholarships, fundraising, crisis assistance, and recognition programs to support cooperative enterprises and their communities.

• Housing cooperative finance

  Kagawa Fund

  The Kagawa Fund provides gap financing for housing cooperatives. It is intended to help cooperative housing projects address capital shortfalls during development or expansion when conventional financing does not fully meet their needs.

• Senior housing cooperative development

  Jacob Kaplan Fund

  The Jacob Kaplan Fund supports the development of senior housing cooperatives. Its focus reflects the use of cooperative ownership and governance models to create housing and community structures for older adults.

• Cooperative education and scholarships

  Howard Bowers Fund

  The Howard Bowers Fund provides scholarships for training food-cooperative staff and boards. The program supports management, governance, and professional development capabilities within food cooperatives.

• Workplace charitable giving

  United Co-op Appeal

  The United Co-op Appeal is CDF's workplace-giving program. With support from the Nationwide Foundation, it raises funds for a network of organizations involved in cooperative development, international development, rural communities, community finance, cooperative education, and related fields.

• Recognition program

  Cooperative Hall of Fame

  The Cooperative Hall of Fame is an annual recognition program administered by CDF. It honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cooperative movement and serves as a mechanism for preserving cooperative history and leadership legacy.

• United Co-op Appeal

  United States

  A workplace-giving campaign administered by CDF to raise contributions for organizations advancing cooperative development and related economic and social initiatives.

  Outcome. The appeal distributed support across a broad group of cooperative and development organizations, with backing from the Nationwide Foundation.

  Source
• Cooperative disaster-relief fundraising

  United States · International

  CDF coordinated or supported cooperative relief efforts following the September 11 attacks, the Asian tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina.

  Outcome. The foundation raised close to $200,000 for economic recovery after the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.

  Source

1. 1Cooperative Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Cooperative Development Foundation official websitecdf.coop