2026 Grant and Scholarship Opportunities

Did you know that the Cooperative Development Foundation has been building the capacity of the cooperative business community since 1944? CDF provides grants for cooperative development and education every year. We could be supporting your co-op work! Check out the opportunities below and save the date for exciting events we are hosting in the new year.

Our 2025 Impact

Grant and Scholarship Opportunities

The Cooperative Development Fund supports cooperative development, research, and technical assistance, including but not limited to cooperatives serving the needs of seniors, international cooperative development, and affordable housing.

The Cooperative Education Fund supports cooperative research, sponsors cooperative education events and scholarships, and develops cooperative education materials and programs. 

CDF’s Cooperative Education Fund will offer small grants to individuals interested in conducting research to identify and provide documentation for nominations of individuals from historically overlooked or marginalized groups whose work and achievements in advancing cooperatives have gone unrecognized.

The CLS fellowship 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. 

Co-op Developer Scholarships: CDF will allocate resources to ensure that cooperative developers have the opportunity to attend national and regional cooperative education events to strengthen their ability to meet the needs of rural co-ops and communities.

Preferred Vendor Program: CDF will expand access to specialized, community-informed technical assistance for rural cooperatives and groups exploring cooperative formation that can be directed in response to emerging momentum and opportunity throughout the year. CDF will identify, vet, and contract with trusted development practitioners who possess both technical expertise and long-standing ties to rural communities. 

National Home Care Cooperative Conference Scholarships: CDF offers scholarships to home care cooperative workers to attend the annual National Home Care Co-op Conference. Scholarships cover the costs of conference registration, travel, room and board and lost wage stipends for qualifying home care cooperative members.

After nine years of stewardship of the conference, CDF has passed the baton to Elevate and the ICA Group to continue this good work. The 10th annual conference will take place October 19-21, 2026 in Tacoma, Washington. Scholarship applications will be launched in the early spring. To ensure you or your cooperative receive scholarship announcements please email Brook Bernini at bbernini@icagroup.org to be added to the conference communications list.

2026 Events

April 18 - May 2

This fun and family-friendly race supports CDF's cooperative development and education work while honoring cooperative hero, Chuck Snyder, whose Do Well to Do Good mantra continues to inspire. The Co-op 5K is one of the ways CDF celebrates, promotes, and strengthens the cooperative identity. 

October 8

The Cooperative Hall of Fame honors distinguished individuals whose contributions to the cooperative business have been genuinely heroic. Join us in Washington, DC as we celebrate our newest co-op heroes – Margaret Bau, Fannie Lou Hamer, Crystal Long, Kevin Still, and Michael Toelle.

It's not too early to think about the 2027 heroes. To learn more about the nomination process, visit heroes.coop.

Other Events: CDF will be hosting other events to bring together key cooperative support organizations (grant makers, lenders, researchers, and developers) in 2026. Sign up below to receive more information about upcoming events that build capacity for the cooperative business community.