The Give Where You Live Campaign is a national effort to support food cooperatives across the U.S. in building local Cooperative Community Funds.
Sponsored by the Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation, each fund will serve as a means for co-op members and shoppers to make donations to an endowment that donates to local non-profit organizations.
The interest earned by each Fund will be given annually to local groups working on issues relating to sustainable agriculture and organic food, hunger and social issues, environmental protection and cooperatives.
The Give Where You Live Campaign represents each Co-op's special effort to give back to those deserving--and hard working--groups that build community.
Give Where You Live! Because great organizations begin here.
How does People’s Cooperative Community Fund (People’s CCF) work?
People’s started its own cooperative community fund in 2007 through the Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation (TPCF). We call this fund the People’s Cooperative Community Fund (CCF). People’s also started People’s CCF with a $5000 investment. Our member-owners and our suppliers contribute to the CCF. When card-carrying member-owners of other grocery co-ops shop, we also contribute a portion of our proceeds in their name. Our owners have been particularly generous in donating their Patronage Refunds to the fund. In addition to our member-owner and supplier contributions, People’s invests 2% of our annual profits, in our CCF.
Through TPCF then loans that money to help grow cooperatives. Interest earned from the CCF is available for People’s to donate to local cooperatives and community organizations that support our Ends Statements. Member-owners nominate organizations and vote to determine which groups receive those funds.
In 2008 Member-owners elected the following nonprofit organizations, which will each be awarded a check for $100 at our annual meeting of member-owners.
In 2009 Member-owners elected the following nonprofit organizations, which will each be awarded a check for ~$100 at our annual meeting of member-owners.
•Growing Gardens
•FoodWorks & Janus Youth Programs
•Growing Food and Justice for All
•City Repair
•NW Co-op Development Center
•Resolutions Northwest
•La Leche League of SE Portland
Currently we have invested over $15,407 in our CCF.
The sources of these funds are $5,000 invested by People’s, a matching grant of $5,000 from Organic Valley Co-op, and $5,407 raised from our members through patronage refund and other donations. Thank you!
Our 2009 CCF member-owner investment goal is $3,500. Our goal is to have $50,000 invested in People’s CCF by 2013.
DONATE:
• Add on a donation during your transaction at the register. (Donate $2, $5 or $10 on your next shopping trip. Or round up the total of your purchases and donate the difference at each check out. (Ex $35.42 total, round up to $36 = donate 58 cents.)
• Mail in a tax-deductible donation to the co-op. We’ve even included a form for your convenience. Checks payable: People’s Cooperative Community Fund/TPCF (3029 SE 21st Ave. Portland, OR 97202)
• Click here to make an on line donation (note: People’s CCF on the form)
• Paid your share investment in full? Donate $30 during the Equity Drive (October).
• Donate all (or part) of your patronage refund any year you get a Patronage Refund voucher. Just sign it over to People’s CCF and we’ll do the rest.
NOMINATE (download a form, please return to the co-op by mail or in person)
To ensure continued investment and support of cooperative development and People’s Cooperative Community Fund (CCF)
We aspire to be a model for food co-ops and other co-ops in this country. We have a vision of creating a thriving cooperative economy in Portland. Places like the Emilia Romagna Region of Italy are an inspiration. In Emilia Romagna, all cooperatives donate 3% of their profits to a cooperative development fund. In Emilia Romanga cooperatives make up over 40% of the economy, and unemployment is virtually nonexistent. With a strong vision and commitment, why couldn’t this be Portland in the next 20 years?
We celebrate this next step in making this vision a reality.
For more information visit: http://www.peoples.coop/community/donations