Cooperative Development Services

What Cooperative Development Services does

Cooperative Development Services (CDS), founded in 1985 in Madison, Wisconsin and headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit cooperative development center serving cooperatives at every stage — long-established, startup, and conversion — across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, with national reach via fiscal sponsorship. It is legally domiciled in Wisconsin and operates with roughly seven full-time staff plus a network of consultants, working primarily remotely throughout the Upper Midwest. A 501(c)(3) charitable subsidiary, the Cooperative Development Fund of CDS, holds Candid's Platinum Seal for Transparency and is registered to accept tax-deductible donations on behalf of cooperatives in states requiring registration.

CDS delivers a portfolio of six core service lines: fiscal sponsorship and nonprofit infrastructure for cooperatives; cooperative startup and education (including a downloadable Co-op 101 tutorial); cooperative business development; cooperative capitalization (including USDA VAPG grant writing); the Senior Housing Cooperatives program (anchored by the only national Senior Housing Cooperative Conference, 23rd annual in 2026); and Co-op Local Foods Systems support. Programs are delivered through fee-for-service consulting, educational webinars and workshops, conferences, peer-learning networks (Small & Strong for small food co-ops, the Senior Co-op Housing Education Program delivered to over 4,000 new owners), and the SCH Purchasing Cooperative. Distribution relies on direct consulting, partnerships with CooperationWorks!, Columinate, Food Co-op Initiative, Shared Capital Cooperative, NREL, CoBank, and several universities, plus a website and Constant Contact newsletter.

The revenue model is a hybrid of fee-for-service professional services, grant facilitation (over $8 million in client grant funding over 20 years), fiscal sponsorship administrative fees (over $5 million passed through to 50+ co-ops since 2020), conference registration ($290-$585 per attendee), tiered annual membership dues for senior housing co-ops ($355-$975 based on unit count), and tax-deductible donations including a 40th Anniversary campaign targeting $75,000. Customer segments span food/grocery, senior housing, worker-owned, agricultural producer, real estate, brewery, and — newly — distributed renewable energy and employer-led childcare cooperatives. As of late 2024 the organization is under new executive leadership (Leslie Watson), with the longest-serving prior ED (Kevin Edberg, 24 years) retained as a Cooperative Development Specialist.

Name

Cooperative Development Services

Legal name

Cooperative Development Services, Inc.

Website

https://cdsus.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cooperative Development Services is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit cooperative development center founded in 1985 that provides fee-for-service consulting, fiscal sponsorship, education, and grant facilitation to food, housing, worker-owned, agricultural, and emerging renewable energy and childcare cooperatives across the Upper Midwest and nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Eagan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service Consulting: CDS provides business development services, feasibility studies, business planning, governance support, and technical assistance on a fee-for-service basis. They work flexibly with clients to develop pricing structures.
2. Grant Facilitation: CDS helps clients secure grant funding from federal, state, and private sources. They have helped clients access over $8 million in grant funding over 20 years. Grant funds often reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for clients.
3. Fiscal Sponsorship Services: Through their 501(c)(3) affiliate Cooperative Development Fund of CDS, they provide nonprofit infrastructure for cooperatives nationwide. They have helped over 50 co-ops raise over $5 million in charitable capital since launching the program in 2020.
4. Conference and Membership Dues: CDS charges registration fees for the Senior Housing Cooperative Conference ($330-$585 per person) and collects annual membership dues from senior housing cooperatives based on unit count ($355-$975 annually).
5. Donations and Charitable Contributions: CDS accepts tax-deductible donations through their 501(c)(3) fund. They conduct annual fundraising campaigns including a 40th Anniversary Campaign targeting $75,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cooperative Development Services (CDS) is a nonprofit cooperative development center that provides fee-for-service consulting, technical assistance, and educational programming to cooperatives at all stages (startups, established co-ops, and conversions to cooperative ownership). Core offerings include fiscal sponsorship through its 501(c)(3) affiliate, feasibility studies, business planning, governance support, grant writing, capitalization assistance, and the annual national Senior Housing Cooperative Conference.

Product overview

Cooperative Development Services (CDS) offers a portfolio of consulting and support services organized around six core programmatic areas: Fiscal Sponsorship (nonprofit infrastructure for cooperatives nationwide via its 501(c)(3) affiliate), Cooperative Startups & Education (guiding new co-op formation), Cooperative Business Development (education programs, governance support, and business assessment), Cooperative Capitalization (capital access and grant writing services), Senior Housing Cooperatives (specialized program with annual conference), and Co-op Local Foods Systems (local foods value chain support). These services are delivered through fee-for-service arrangements with flexible pricing and grant funding support. CDS also operates the Small & Strong program for small food co-ops and provides educational resources including the Co-op 101 Tutorial and the Senior Co-op Housing Education Program (SCHEP).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CDS Fiscal Sponsorship Provides nonprofit infrastructure for cooperatives nationwide through the 501(c)(3) Cooperative Development Fund of CDS, handling compliance and donation processing. Registered for charitable solicitation in all states requiring it, enabling cooperatives anywhere in the U.S. to fundraise legally.
• Cooperative Startups & Education Provides trusted guidance to groups starting new co-ops in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, including a Co-op 101 Tutorial that describes how cooperators can build both a democratic association of owner-members and a successful business.
• Cooperative Business Development Education programs and services for existing co-ops including conferences, governance and board planning support, business assessment, and fee-for-service business development services.
• Cooperative Capitalization Helps startups, conversions and existing co-ops access capital through business assessment and planning, capital campaigns, accessing federal and state grant programs (including USDA Value Added Producer Grant), and securing tax-deductible charitable contributions. Has helped clients access over $8 million in grant funding over 20 years.
• Senior Housing Cooperatives Program Connects senior housing co-ops with resources and tools, providing networking opportunities, quality programming through workshops, and the national annual Senior Housing Cooperative Conference. Includes the SHC Council for member voice and educational events.
• Co-op Local Foods Systems Supports growth of local food systems through research, grant writing, feasibility analysis, business planning, and other technical assistance for food producers, distributors, and cooperatively-owned retail grocery.
• Small & Strong Program Supports small food co-ops in the Upper Midwest through coordinated peer learning, training from grocery experts, and an annual conference. Includes virtual quarterly calls, online trainings, peer audits, and technical assistance.
• Senior Housing Cooperative Conference (SHCC) The nation's only national gathering for senior housing co-ops, bringing together board members, co-op residents, managers, and professionals to learn from experts and share knowledge. Annual conference with workshops, networking, vendor exhibitions, and awards banquet.
• Senior Co-op Housing Education Program (SCHEP) A multi-module training program for member-owners of senior housing cooperatives, developed in partnership with the Senior Cooperative Foundation. Delivered to over 4,000 new owners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 cooperative organizations developed, restructured, or expanded
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance (MNIBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnered to produce 'Beginning the Cooperative Journey Together: A Guide to Indigenous Community Cooperative Development' published in 2020 through USDA Socially Disadvantaged Group Grant funding.
• ColuminatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe cooperative of independent consultants provides assistance, typically on fee-for-service basis, to co-ops, nonprofits and other organizations that advance the common good. CDS refers clients and collaborates on cooperative development projects.
• Food Co-op InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides online resources, webinars, and information about best practices in the start-up of food co-ops and food buying clubs. Sometimes provides matching grants for technical assistance on a competitive basis.
• CooperationWorks!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national network of cooperative development centers. The organization supports its member centers and co-op developers with professional education. Especially for those outside MN, WI or IA, CW helps find a co-op development center in their region.
• Senior Cooperative FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes successful development and operation of senior housing cooperatives. Partnered with CDS to develop the Senior Co-op Housing Education Program (SCHEP), delivered to over 4,000 new owners. CDS hosts the annual SHC Conference jointly with SCF.
• Cooperative Housing ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUD-approved lender and development consultant specializing in senior housing cooperatives. Provides mortgage banking services and organizational development consulting. Commitment stems from belief in redemptive power of communities.
• SCH Purchasing CooperativecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHelps senior housing cooperatives and their members obtain greater purchasing power. Owned and controlled by member co-ops. SCHPC vets vendors and selects preferred vendors offering best value. Currently serves 41 member co-ops.
• University of Wisconsin Center for CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity education partner in worker ownership ecosystem. Partnered with CDS on Employee Ownership Roadshow and governance support for conversions. Also working together on cooperative childcare solutions.
• University of Minnesota Business Retention and Expansion ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity education partner in the worker ownership ecosystem supporting conversion of small businesses to employee ownership via worker-owned cooperatives.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough USDA and DOE's RAISE initiative, CDS is working with NREL to explore distributed wind energy opportunities for farmers and rural businesses in Minnesota.
• Minnesota Farmers UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering with CDS on distributed wind energy outreach and engagement with rural Minnesotans through RAISE initiative.
• Food Co-op AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDS was a partner in creating this nonprofit specifically devoted to startup grocery co-ops, helping transform the consumer-owned grocery co-op sector nationwide.
• Cooperative Partners WarehousecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperatively-owned distributor of organic and local products providing key services including cross-docking for cost-effective distribution options for local producers in the Twin Cities food system.
• Cooperative NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota and Wisconsin state trade association for cooperatives. CDS works with them on events including Senior Co-op Housing Conference planning and Co-op Days at the Capitol.
• Georgia Cooperative Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvited CDS executive director Leslie Watson to lead governance training for startup shared services co-op as part of their Shared Futures Athens Cooperative Training Program.
• Dorsey & Whitney, LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm with cooperative expertise. Attorney Jack Huerter provides training on Capper-Volstead Act for farmer cooperatives as part of CDS's Producer Co-op Training Series.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CooperationWorks!: The national network of cooperative development centers; supports member centers with professional education and routes clients outside MN/WI/IA to regional centers. CDS is an active member; directly comparable in mission and service model.
• Project Equity: Nonprofit that helps business owners transition to employee ownership through worker cooperatives. Directly comparable in business-to-co-op conversion services — competing for the same boomer succession pipeline.
• Democracy at Work Institute: Provides education, training, and resources to support the development of worker cooperatives. Directly comparable in worker co-op development focus — overlapping with CDS's worker-owned cooperative program.
• Northwest Cooperative Development Center: Regional cooperative development center serving the Pacific Northwest with similar consulting, education, and co-op formation services. Comparable mission and service model; serves a different region of the US.
• Food Co-op Initiative: Provides online resources, webinars, and matching grants for technical assistance to startup food co-ops and food buying clubs. Direct peer in food co-op development — CDS is a strategic partner and frequently refers clients.
• Cooperative Development Institute: Regional cooperative development center serving the Northeast US with consulting, education, and co-op formation services. Comparable in mission and service portfolio to CDS.
• Columinate: A cooperative of independent consultants providing fee-for-service consulting, governance support, and peer audits to co-ops and nonprofits. Closely comparable to CDS in service mix and cooperative development focus; current ED Leslie Watson previously led Columinate's governance service program.

Broad incumbents

• NCBA CLUSA: National Cooperative Business Association, the largest US cooperative trade association. Broader in scope than CDS — operates in advocacy, international development, and co-op promotion nationally — but overlaps in cooperative development consulting and education.

Others

• Shared Capital Cooperative: Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing cooperative-friendly financing. Financial partner that complements CDS by providing capital to clients; not a direct competitor but tightly aligned in the co-op development ecosystem.

Regional players

• Georgia Cooperative Development Center: Regional cooperative development center serving the Southeast US with comparable consulting and education services. Operates in a different geography than CDS but offers similar services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cooperative-development-services

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cooperative Development Services