Cooperative Development Services

Cooperative Development Services (CDS) is a nonprofit organization engaged in cooperative development in the United States. CDS works primarily with food cooperatives and senior housing cooperatives, providing consultation services and co-sponsoring conferences and programs for board members, managers and other professionals in the cooperative sector.

CDS has staff in Madison, Wisconsin and St. Paul, Minnesota and is run by a 12-member board of directors.

History
Cooperative Development Services was founded in 1985 by Rod Nilsestuen.

Programs
Cooperative Board Leadership Development (CBLD) is a program providing support to the boards of food cooperatives. CBLD works with cooperatives to help define the role that Boards play in relation to staff.

Policy Governance: A complete system of board leadership that is proactive, future-based and clearly differentiates between governance and management responsibilities. It empowers management while assuring accountability of performance.

Forestry cooperatives
Cooperative Development Services assists in the development of sustainable forestry cooperatives and associations. Since 1998, CDS has been involved in the formation of 25 forestry cooperatives. CDS has received nearly $1 million in grant assistance from the USDA's rural cooperative development grants program. CDS is a founding partner in WoodWorks, a network of organizations that provide services to forestry cooperatives.

Food Co-op 500
Food Co-op 500 is a program to increase the number of food cooperatives in the United States to 500 by 2015. As of 2009, there were approximately 300 food cooperatives in operation. The program is supported by CDS along with the National Cooperative Grocers Association and the National Cooperative Bank. CDS offers free outlines detailing the seven steps in forming a cooperative.

Renewable energy
CDS assists organizations with founding businesses and funding projects in the renewable energy industry. CDS has helped organizations with projects involving biodiesel and wind energy.

Value-added agriculture
CDS works with agricultural and livestock businesses to create revenue through value-added products. The organization assists businesses in obtaining grants such as the Value-Added Producer Grants available through the USDA.