Giving Thanks for Cooperation

As the seasons change and we approach Thanksgiving, I am reflecting on my first ten months as Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Foundation. We are proud to announce a new strategic framework for CDF focused on building the capacity of the US cooperative business community. And I am grateful for the generosity and collaboration of the cooperative field as we embark on this exciting next chapter. Together, we will work to ensure that all people can address their needs, pursue their aspirations, build shared wealth, and thrive in community.



In my first months in this role, I embarked on a listening tour to better understand what people value about CDF and where they would most like the Foundation to focus in the future. I heard from myriad individuals and organizations across this country about the challenges and opportunities facing cooperatives: How could we build awareness of the cooperative model among young people to engage the next generation of cooperators? How could we ensure cooperative leaders are more diverse, better equipped, and fully embrace the cooperative identity? How could we increase access to grants and loans, co-op research and education, and technical assistance for cooperatives seeking to launch or grow? How could we facilitate the conditions at the state and local levels to encourage and connect cooperatives for a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient economy? These conversations – and deep engagement with the CDF Board of Directors – helped shape the focus on capacity building with three major strategic approaches: 1) cross-sector outreach and leadership development, 2) advancement of a strong and aligned national co-op support system, and 3) place-based demonstrations of vibrant and connected co-op economies.

Some of the efforts to advance our new strategic framework that I’m especially excited about include:

And this is just the beginning.

So, I will conclude where I began – with gratitude. Gratitude for all those who are demonstrating what is possible. Gratitude for all those who have shared their stories and aspirations with us. And gratitude for all those who opened the door to future collaboration towards our common goals.

This Thanksgiving season, I invite you to partner with us to cultivate the cooperative leaders of the future, strengthen the national co-op support system, and demonstrate the power of cooperative economies. Together, we can build a more cooperative economy. 

Interested in supporting cooperatives this Giving Tuesday? Donate to the Cooperative Development Foundation, the National Cooperative Business Association, or one of the many excellent co-op associations or development organizations.

Special thanks to those who contributed to CDF's strategic framework and appreciation for so many others who added inspiration through informal conversations and your inspiring work!

• The Cooperative Development Foundation Board of Directors:

  • John Holdsclaw IV, Rochdale Capital and National Cooperative Bank (Chair)

  • Larry Blanchard, TruStage (Vice Chair)

  • Adria Powell, Cooperative Home Care Associates (Secretary)

  • holly jo Sparks, Spartan Housing Cooperative (Treasurer)

  • Devin Furhman, Nationwide Insurance

  • Christina Jennings, Shared Capital Cooperative

  • Richard Larochelle, NRUCFC (retired)

  • Michelle Schry, National Co+op Grocers

  • Deborah Trocha, Indiana Cooperative Development Center (retired)

• Cooperative Community:

  • Sandra Baca, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

  • Margaret M. Bau, USDA (retired)

  • Courtney Berner, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives

  • Cornelius Blanding, Federation of Southern Cooperatives/LAF

  • Mary Alex Blanton, National Cooperative Bank

  • Anna Boyer, Tech Collective/Shared Capital Cooperative Board

  • Kirstie Boyette, Cooperative Development Foundation

  • Vanessa Bransburg, Democracy at Work Institute

  • Sylandi Brown, Middle Georgia EMC

  • Syd Burke, NASCO

  • Brian Cavey, CoBank

  • Jeffrey Connor, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

  • Kim Coontz, California Center for Cooperative Development

  • Deborah Craig, Northwest Cooperative Development Center

  • Erbin Crowell, Neighboring Food Co-op Association

  • Carla Decker, SkyPoint Federal Credit Union

  • Pablo DeFillipi, Inclusiv

  • Judy DeLucca, N.O. Fireman’s Federal Credit Union

  • Steve Dubb, Association of Cooperative Educators

  • Nora Edge, Northwest Cooperative Development Center 

  • Hanan El-Youssef, Cooperative Development Foundation

  • Teia Evans, The Ajani Group and CoFed

  • Hugh Farrell, Indiana Cooperative Development Center

  • Ann Fedorchak, National Cooperative Bank

  • James Hunter, N.O. Fireman’s Federal Credit Union

  • Kristin Forde Hurckes, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives

  • Noemi Giszpenc, Keystone Development Center

  • Jessica Gordon Nembhard, City University of New York

  • Sam Green, Northwest Cooperative Development Center

  • Mary Griffin, Cooperative Development Foundation

  • Leslie Hagele, CoBank

• Cooperative Community Continued

  • Gary Hampton, Association of Cooperative Educators

  • JQ Hannah, Food Co-op Initiative

  • Ron Hantz, Network for Developing Conscious Communities

  • Bruce & Rena Harrell, Federation for Southern Cooperatives/LAF

  • Cindy Houlden, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  • Andrew Jacob, CoBank

  • Esteban Kelly, US Federation of Worker Cooperatives

  • Kate Khatib, Seed Commons

  • Kate LaTour, CoBank

  • Ashly Ligouri, CoBank

  • Margaret Lund, Consultant

  • Rosemary Mahoney, International Finance Corporation

  • Brendan Martin, Seed Commons

  • Tracy McIntyre, Montana Cooperative Development Center

  • Julian McKinley, Democracy at Work Institute

  • Leslie Mead, Cooperative Development Foundation (retired)

  • Karen Miner, International Center for Co-operative Management, Saint Mary’s University

  • Burnell & Mittie Muse, Muse3Farm & Federation for Southern Cooperatives

  • Cristine Nardi, National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA)

  • Sonja Novkovic, International Center for Co-operative Management, Saint Mary’s University

  • Doug O’Brien, National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA)

  • C.E. Pugh, National Co+op Grocers

  • Christopher Roe, TruStage

  • Chynnique Ross, Esq., Cook County Government 

  • LaDonna Sanders Redmond, Columinate

  • Charity Schmidt, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives & Association of Cooperative Educators

  • Electra Skrzydlewski, Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers

  • Jason Simpson Spicer, City University of New York

  • Cathy Statz, Consultant

  • Alex Stone, CooperationWorks!

  • Jill Tomalin, America's Credit Unions

  • Patty Viafara, Nexus Community Partners

  • Char Vrieze, Cooperative Development Services

  • James Watts, Weaver Street Market

  • Tara Williams, CooperationWorks!

  • Alexandra Wilson, International Cooperative Alliance Board Member

  • Megan Wolle, CHS, Inc.

  • Tamah Yisrael, TMH Financial & Management Solutions

  • Judy Ziewacz, National Cooperative Business Association (retired)

  • Karen Zimbelman – National Co+op Grocers (retired)

From the Desk of the Executive Director

Julie Bosland is a results-driven executive with over 25 years of experience helping public, nonprofit and business leaders expand economic opportunities and build strong communities. As executive director of CDF and senior policy advisor to NCBA CLUSA, the apex organization for US co-ops, she supports co-ops and co-op developers nationwide. Previously, Julie served in senior leadership roles within Living Cities, Think Shift (an initiative of The DeBruce Foundation), National League of Cities, and in federal and local government. A graduate of Swarthmore College, Julie earned her Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University and in 2024 earned INP’s Certificate in Nonprofit Practice.

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