Mission West CDP/ Cooperative Development Center/ Strengthen Your Co-op

Call us before it's a crisis.

Help for co-ops that are already open, including board training, planning, membership and capital, while the problems are still small enough to fix.

Take the board check-up Talk to Taylor

Food co-ops would frequently delay getting expert advice until they were experiencing a crisis.

Columinate, a national co-op consulting firm, on why it started its board program
Board check-up

Five questions every co-op board should be able to answer.

These are the five problems research on co-op boards keeps finding. Answer honestly. It takes a minute, and nothing is sent anywhere.

Finding directorsWe have people ready to run in our next board election.
Representation and expertiseOur board has both member voices and people who can read a balance sheet.
Board and manager rolesThe board and our manager agree on who decides what.
Manager successionWe'd have a plan if our manager left tomorrow.
CapitalWe know where our next round of capital will come from.
How we help

Support for co-ops that are already open.

Board governance coaching

So directors know their legal duties, how their job differs from the manager's, and how to run a good meeting.

Membership development

Ways to bring in new members and keep current ones involved and voting.

Capital strategies

Plans for raising capital, from member equity drives to lenders. Co-op loan packages are available through our Business Development Center.

Strategic planning

Facilitated planning so the board and management agree on where the co-op is headed.

Workshops and retreats

Education and board retreats that build leadership and shared knowledge.

Specialized referrals

Legal, HR and accounting help that understands co-ops, and co-op development groups across the region.

Board training

What directors learn.

  1. Their legal duties of care, loyalty and obedience
  2. Who does what: the board versus the manager
  3. Reading the financial statements
  4. Running effective meetings
  5. Hiring and evaluating the general manager
  6. Planning for board and manager turnover
  7. Keeping members informed and involved

Co‑ops helping co‑ops.

Cooperation among cooperatives is one of the seven co-op principles. Statewide, the Montana Council of Cooperatives brings Montana's co-ops together.

Closer to home, Mission West is restarting its co-op governance community of practice for board members and staff. It meets monthly, with two workshop series each year: Foundations of Cooperative Governance, and a second series on rotating topics. To get on the mailing list, email Taylor or call (406) 676-5906.

Talk to us

What's on your board's mind?

Tell us about your co-op and what the board is working through. We'll follow up within one business day.

More on co-ops: Start a co-op · Sell your business to your employees · Own buildings together · Co-op FAQs