Become a Member of Shared Capital
Join more than 300 cooperatives and 100 individuals in 35+ states who are members of Shared Capital Cooperative.
“The best thing about Shared Capital is that they come into the process with a desire to make things work.”
Executive Director, Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Why Join Shared Capital?
Members have voting rights and are eligible to borrow from and invest in the cooperative fund. Any cooperative or individual can be a member.
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Democratic Governance
Members can nominate candidates to the Board of Directors and vote in annual Board elections and on key governance issues. Each cooperative member has one vote.
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Access to Capital
Members can borrow from Shared Capital Cooperative to start, grow, or sustain their cooperative business.
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Investment Opportunities
Members have the opportunity to invest in Shared Capital Cooperative, supporting the broader cooperative economy.
Who Can Join
Cooperatives, entities operating on a cooperative basis, and groups intending to form a cooperative, can become members of Shared Capital Cooperative. Individuals have a separate class of membership.
Cooperative Businesses
Worker co-ops, consumer co-ops, producer co-ops, and other cooperative enterprises.
Housing Cooperatives
Including affordable housing, student housing, and other residential co-ops.
Individuals
Individuals who support our mission and want to participate in the cooperative economy.
Equity Requirements
Membership requires a one-time purchase of equity shares. Requirements vary based on the type and size of the member.
Membership for housing cooperatives is based on the number of housing units in the cooperative.
| Requirement | Standard Housing | Low income & student* |
|---|---|---|
| Per unit | $50 | $25 |
| Minimum | $500 | $250 |
| Maximum | $6,000 | $3,000 |
* Housing co-ops qualifying as low-income housing under HUD guidelines or as student housing if more than 50% of residents are students.
Member equity requirements for cooperative businesses are based on the co-op’s asset size.
| Co-op’s Assets | Required Equity |
|---|---|
| Up to $50,000 | $150 |
| Up to $250,001 | $500 |
| Up to $500,000 | $1,000 |
| Up to $1 million | $2,000 |
| Up to $5 million | $3,000 |
| Up to $10 million | $5,000 |
| Up to $25 million | $7,500 |
| $25 million and over | $10,000 |
Individuals purchase $100 equity to become members.
Individual members nominate and elect one representative to the Board of Directors. On other governance matters, individual members collectively have one vote based on the majority vote of the group.
Ready to Join Us?
Questions about Membership? Contact Adam at adam@sharedcapital.coop or 612.767.2115.
Apply for Membership