Morgan, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! This is only the second time we've heard of a 501c3 grocery store that was interested in converting to a food co-op so it wasn't on our radar, but you are the second person involved with a 501c3 grocery to mention it to us this summer, so we've made a note to keep an eye on this. Wish we had the funding to do all of the instructional guides and videos the startup food co-op movement needs asap, but we've definitely added it to our "requests" list!

@@FoodCoopInitiative Our store is a C-Corp not-for-profit rather than a 501 (c) 3. It started out as an all-volunteer food buying club in the early 1970s and gradually incorporated into its current form. To clarify: C-Corp not-for-profits are legally bound to turn all profit back into the business and contribute to other local businesses, especially those serving under-served persons and marginalized groups. That being said, any donations we might receive are unable to be claimed as a taxable donation by the individuals providing the donation. After careful research, I have since learned that California prohibits independent retail grocery stores and food co-ops from becoming a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit. Collectives and housing co-ops can generally be permitted to form as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, but not a food retailer. However, converting to a member-owned and worker-run food co-op, out of an already established independent retail natural foods grocery store, looks to be similar to the usual conversion process --- except the feasibility study would be greatly simplified since it is already operating successfully. There is no sale of the business involved (as a C-Corp) but would likely require a specific legal protocol to become an entity "owned" by its members. Any advice or counsel out there?

We are so glad you are finding them useful and enjoyable!

The Fertile Ground and HRA team did a terrific job sharing their innovative work together, we agree!

@ShySasquath - thank you for watching this video and for your comment as a former employee. We have removed your second comment because it made a public accusation about an individual who is not connected to this video.

Hector, thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts. It is absolutely a long time to wait, and it's what it takes so far to open a full grocery store. There are over 150 startup food co-ops that have opened over the last 15 years across the US with it taking them on average 5-7 years to open, and over 75% of them are still open and thriving. What you describe as the evolutionary process is part of the startup process for many startup food co-ops, with many opening farmers markets, local food pop up markets, or something related at some point in their process to opening a full grocery store - so yes, that's doable in many cases and part of the process! And if a co-op wants to focus on offering just a farmer's market or a CSA for now, they can choose to do that as well. The impacts can be more immediate if it works, they also are far more limited in scope than the impacts of a retail co-op grocery store, but can be powerful in their own way for sure.

1. You are very welcome! 2. there usually are, but we had only a couple stage one groups want a peer group this year and it just didn't gel, which happens some years. That said, we'd be happy to add you to a stage 2a peer group to listen in if you'd like and see if it's a fit? Email JQ on our team at [email protected] if you'd like to discuss the possibilities!

Yes, it's confusing, we know. 😄 When the stages were first mapped out they thought it was three stages, then quickly learned there were actually four distinct stages, so stage 2 was cut into 2A and 2B. While you'll see some mention of stage 3 having subsections, we no longer utilize those as we feel they all fit logically into one stage. Hope this helps!

@@FoodCoopInitiative thank you! 🙏🏾

That is music to our ears! While we'd love to see startups open faster, the reality of those startup food co-ops that have been successful is that it takes 3 years bare minimum, 5-7 years average, and some have been wildly successful that actually took 10 years. Thank you for learning and work you are doing on behalf of your community!

This one is from the Sept 2022 series, but we do have up the Winter 2023 playlist with all but one of the videos posted today! An email updating everyone where to find them is coming tomorrow mid-day. Thank you again for being a part of the learning with us. <3

@@FoodCoopInitiative Thank you so much. FCI LIVE was so informative and fun.

Great idea! We don't have the real estate expertise on our team to lead such a call, but we have a qualified presenter with deep experience in retail real estate and food co-ops who will be doing a broad presentation on choosing a site and the basics of the site negotiation process at the Up & Coming 2024 Startup Food Co-op Conference in Kalamazoo, MI on September 13th and 14th. I will add it to our list to see if he'd be willing to turn that presentation into an FCI Live video in the future!

It takes a lot of work and an entire community pitching in for multiple years to make it a success and that sure can feel frustrating in a world where there are so many changes needed and that we want to make manifest, we hear you. Not every community that begins to organize a food co-op will make it to opening a store, but the majority do . . . eventually. ;)

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We're so glad it's helpful, thank you for letting us know, Carol!

You are very welcome, Michelle, we love supporting the powerful work you are doing in your community!

Thank you for the feedback, Felicia!

James Chuaycham Board members, elected by all owners, represent the owners and are responsible for the success of the co-op. They usually hire a GM, delegate responsibility for store operations to the GM and set policies to guide her/him. The bylaws adopted by the co-op will define how owners can bring issues to a vote and if owner approval is required for major decisions (typically for dissolution, for example.)

Thank you