Social Cooperative
What Are Social Cooperatives?
Leading the Movement to Bring Social Cooperatives to the U.S.
Social cooperatives are community-driven enterprises offering essential care services. They operate under a multi-stakeholder governance model, encompassing care providers, recipients, family members, and local stakeholders. This inclusive approach ensures that both worker welfare and community benefits are prioritized.
The hybrid nature of social cooperatives—combining elements of non-profit and for-profit organizations—currently lacks specific IRS designation and legal recognition in the U.S.
Countries worldwide have embraced social cooperatives with impressive results:
- Italy: Over 14,000 social cooperatives provide essential services, employing thousands while ensuring fair wages and high-quality care.
- Quebec, Canada: The region’s social economy is deeply rooted in cooperatives, including community-driven healthcare initiatives.
- South Korea: Legal recognition has allowed social cooperatives to thrive, expanding access to affordable care while fostering economic democracy.
These success stories demonstrate the potential for social cooperatives to revolutionize care services in the United States.
Adapting the social cooperative model in the U.S. presents an opportunity to create quality jobs for marginalized populations.
RMEOC is actively researching the potential of social cooperatives and exploring the necessary financial and social infrastructures to ensure their sustainability in the U.S.
The Benefits of Social Cooperatives
In countries with a longstanding tradition of social cooperatives, their benefits are widely recognized and include:
Multi-stakeholder Model
Social cooperatives offer diverse membership categories, including care recipients, family members, community members, local funders, and volunteers.
Collaborative Care Services
They leverage their diverse membership to co-create care services, moving away from traditional top-down models.
Meaningful Employment
Social cooperatives provide fulfilling employment opportunities and membership satisfaction to disadvantaged and marginalized populations.
High-Quality Care
They deliver high-quality care, achieving high satisfaction levels among both providers and recipients.
Support the Community
By offering services to those in need and integrating disadvantaged individuals into the workforce, social cooperatives play a crucial role in supporting and addressing specific community needs.
RMEOC’s Initiatives
The RMEOC is actively working to promote and implement social cooperative models in the U.S. through:
The Social Cooperative Academy
A structured learning program offering training on cooperative governance, financial sustainability, and community engagement.
Research Efforts
RMEOC is leading a team of experienced volunteer researchers to compile a comprehensive report on social cooperatives, detailing their history, structure, and global case studies.
Community of Practice
A national network of stakeholders dedicated to researching and launching social cooperatives.
Advocacy
Engaging with policymakers to create legal pathways for social cooperatives.
Sign Up Today
This vibrant, interactive Community of Practice will cover best practices, innovative strategies, and practical insights to support the growth and sustainability of social cooperatives.
Engage in meaningful discussions, expand your network, and be involved with shaping the future of social coops in the U.S.
Want to Learn More?
Social cooperatives are important due to their profound impact on 1) the care of marginalized populations and 2) their unique ability to facilitate job placement for these groups in our society.
Excited to learn more and support our efforts? Here are some resources for you:
Explore our Canvas, filled with top readings and additional resources about social cooperatives.
Watch the recordings of our Social Cooperative Academy for an in-depth understanding of social cooperatives.
Follow our blog series on social cooperatives to stay updated on our work and essential information about social coops.