Cultivating the leaders of the future

The Cooperative Leaders and Scholars (CLS) provides cross-sector leadership development and builds professional networks for new and emerging cooperative leaders and scholars. This 8-month fellowship provides opportunities to participate in multi-sector programming and events, and to engage with thought leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders. This community empowers and trains its fellows to build a more inclusive economy in North America, together. The experience is open to new and emerging cooperators: current employees or board members, post-secondary students, or others interested in working for, creating, or leading a cooperative or cooperative organization.

Designed to deepen and broaden knowledge of cooperatives and the role the model plays in meeting economic and social needs of communities, the program is structured to empower participants to shape their experience for maximum value as they connect and collaborate with peers and industry experts.

Contact Kirstie Boyette at kboyette@cdf.coop for more information.

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FAQ

Emerging cooperators (ages 18-35) pursuing a career in or working with cooperatives, credit unions, and mutual insurance.

Individuals new to cooperatives, credit unions, and mutual insurance with less than 5 years of experience

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Eligibility

Applicants must live in North America and fall into at least one of the

following categories:

Emerging leader in cooperatives, credit unions, or mutual insurance (ages 18 - 35)
New to cooperatives (fewer than 5 years of experience in co-op work)
Current post-secondary students of any age

Timeline

December 5 - Application portal opens
February 2 - Applications due by 11:59 pm EST
February 16 - Applicants notified of status
April 1 - Program kick-off (virtual)
April 20 - 24 - Weeklong in-person convening in Hudson Valley, NY and NYC
May - September - Virtual programming
October 5 - 9 - Weeklong in-person convening in Washington, DC
November - Virtual programming
December - Graduation and Wrap-up

Program Content

Engage in an 8-month fellowship designed to deepen and broaden knowledge of cooperatives
Be a part of a community that can provide ongoing peer support and professional development opportunities
Co-create a capstone project
Participate in exclusive networking events
Learn from industry experts in a series of webinars
Get to know the fellows in-person in Hudson Valley, NY and NYC from April 20 - 24 that will include co-op tours and training workshops.
Attend a weeklong event in Washington, DC from October 5 - 9 featuring NCBA CLUSA's Co-op IMPACT Conference, CDF's Cooperative Hall of Fame, a one-day course from the International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary's University, and co-op tours.

Benefits

Registration for the Co-op IMPACT Conference, Cooperative Hall of Fame, and International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary's University course
Hudson Valley, NY, New York City, and Washington, DC co-op tours
Access to exclusive networking events and webinars from industry experts
Peer-to-Peer and Mentor-to-Mentee opportunities
Travel stipend ($1,000 total), accommodations, and most meals for two in-person events
$30 metro card for Washington, DC
$600 honorarium

Testimonials from Alumni

"I was most surprised by the caliber of people I met during this program. It was incredible to meet and learn from people across all skill levels, co-op sectors, and areas of the world."

"I built essential relationships with key stakeholders and learned about best practices and innovations in the cooperative field. The program helped me learn about the nuances and flexibility of the cooperative model."

"It was the most inspiring week with the most awesome co-operators. So much to learn from each other and learn together from the best co-op practitioners."

"This was an incredibly rewarding experience and in addition to gaining an in depth understanding of the cooperative movement, I gained a whole network of individuals who are knowledgeable and available to assist me in projects moving forward."

CLS Alumni Network

Since the 1990s, CLS has undergone various iterations, the most notable being an expansion in 2023 from a one week event to an 8-month fellowship experience.

The newly formed network strives to connect CLS alumni for lasting impact by fostering connections and building enduring relationships to create a strong network of changemakers building a better world together, one cooperative at a time.

Connect with alumni from other cohorts who are at different stages in their cooperative paths.

Join the network