MCDC is happy to present a collection of excellent cooperative model resources and publications. This collection comes from several federal and state funded sites and agencies (i.e. U.S. Department of Agriculture) and other sites accessible to the public. We have provided the url address of each site where the resource was found. In addition, when permitted MCDC downloaded these resources to our web page in case a url address changes and the resource is no long available at that address. Please note that each state has its own statutes or laws that define cooperatives for that state. It is important to everyone using these resources to research the state laws where the cooperative is located or contact us.
What are Cooperatives – How to Start a Cooperative

CIR-55 Co-ops 101: An Introduction to Cooperatives
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/cir55.pdf

CIR-7 How to Start a Cooperative
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/publications/CIR_7
_HowtoStartaCooperative.pdf

SR-58 Coop Feasibility Study Guide
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
publications/SR58_CoopFeasibilityStudyGuide.pdf

Cooperatives: Principles and Practices in the 21st Century
Source:
https://community-wealth.org/content/cooperatives-principles-and-practices-21st-century
Types of Cooperatives

CIR-49 Shared-Services Cooperatives
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cir49.pdf

SR-46 Basics of Organizing a Shared-Services Cooperative
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/SR46.pdf

What is a Housing Cooperative
Source:
https://coophousing.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/
11/What-is-a-Housing-cooperative.pdf

More than just Housing: Coop Housing
Source:
https://ncdc.unl.edu/Documents/coopHouse
02%281%29.pdf

Steps to Starting a Worker Coop
Source:
https://institute.coop/sites/default/files/resources/
348%201997_Hansen%20et%20al_Steps
%20to%20Starting%20A%20Worker%20Coop.pdf
Equity and Ownership
Legal Documentation

CIR-40 Sample Legal Documents for Cooperatives
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/cir40.pdf
Taxes

CIR-59 Antitrust Status of Farmer Cooperatives
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/CIR59.pdf

CIR-35 Understanding Capper-Volstead
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cir35.pdf

CIR-44-P1 Income Tax Treatment of Cooperatives
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cir44-1.pdf

CIR-44-P2 Income Tax treatment of Coops
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cir44-2.pdf

CIR-44-P3 Income Tax Treatment of Coops
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cir44-3.pdf

CIR-44-P4 Income Tax Treatment of Coops
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cir44-4.pdf
Board of Directors

CIR-11 Co-op Essentials: What They Are and the Role of Members, Directors, Managers, and Employees
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/publications/CIR%2011
%20%20Co-op%20Essentials.pdf

PowerPoint Slides corresponding with Cooperative Information CIR-11
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/publications/CIR11_Co-opEssentialsPowerpoint.pdf

CIR-62 Cooperative Directors: Asking Necessary Questions
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/publications/
CIR62_Directors_AskingNecessaryQuestions.pdf

Questions Cooperative Directors Should be Asking Management
Source:
https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/cudasp/121120.html

CIR-58 Assessing Performance and Needs of Cooperative Boards of Directors
Source:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cir58.pdf
Montana Cooperative Economic Impact
Montana Cooperative Impact Weeks
MONTANA CO-OPS MAKE A DIFFERENCE VIDEOS
Montana Co-ops 101 Educational Video Series
SEVEN COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
Cooperatives around the world generally operate according to the same core principles and values, adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance in 1995. Cooperatives trace the roots of these principles to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in 1844.