A national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) loan fund that lends to cooperative businesses and housing co-ops across the US — and is itself a cooperative, owned and governed by the co-ops that borrow from and invest in it. Founded in 1978 by Twin Cities co-op leaders who pooled spare cash into a revolving loan fund because banks wouldn't lend to co-ops; headquartered in Minneapolis-St. Paul. It counts 330 member cooperatives in 35 states and DC, plus individual members (any co-op, group forming one, or individual can join; individuals buy a $100 equity share). Since 1978 it has made over 1,000 loans totaling more than $80 million; in 2025 the fund reached $24.7 million and closed 25 loans worth $6.5 million, 88% of them to co-ops of people of color, low-income, women, and LGBTQ communities. Also runs an Heirs' Property Relending Program and takes investment from social investors.
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Checked Oct 21, 2026 for ways to get involved: found no public events, and found no community to join.
Its one public event is the Annual General Meeting and Co-op Forum, and the 2026 edition has already happened: the page now thanks attendees and links the recording and materials (including a housing co-op panel with Pilsen Housing Cooperative, Students' Cooperative, and Spartan Housing Cooperative), without giving the date. Add the 2027 meeting once it's announced. No Slack, Discord, or forum: members interact through governance (board elections and ballot questions) and lending, not a discussion space.