Cooperative Leaders and Scholars Program
We wanted to share information about an upcoming opportunity that may be of interest to you or others in your network—the Cooperative Development Foundation’s (CDF) Cooperative Leaders & Scholars Program (CLS).
CLS provides cross-sector leadership development and builds professional networks for new and emerging cooperative leaders and scholars. This 8-month fellowship provides opportunities to participate in multi-sector programming and events and to engage with co-op industry thought leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The experience is open to new and emerging cooperators: current employees or board members, post-secondary students, or others interested in working for, creating, or leading a cooperative or cooperative organization.
Designed to deepen and broaden knowledge of cooperatives and the role the model plays in meeting community economic and social needs, the program is structured to empower participants to shape their experience for maximum value as they connect and collaborate with peers and industry experts.
Please note – we receive more expressions of interest and applications than we are able to accommodate each year, so we cannot guarantee inclusion in the program if you do choose to apply. We encourage you to consider applying if this meets your interests, and to share the opportunity with colleagues in your networks.
Also, please consider whether your employer or co-op organization is able or willing to help sponsor your participation. Let us know how we might be able to help you navigate that discussion with your employer and/or co-op organization.
Please review the eligibility requirements (below) and consider applying to join next year’s cohort. And please contact me with any questions.
More Info
CLS Website: https://www.cdf.coop/cls
CLS Info Session January 14, 2025 12:30 – 1:30 pm Eastern: https://www.cdf.coop/events-1/cooperative-leaders-and-scholars-cls-information-session
FAQ: https://www.cdf.coop/_files/ugd/98a0e1_6f66a2ce7498445bae484d5d138b8b67.pdf
February 2, 2026 deadline to apply
Eligibility – Applicants must live in North America and fall into at least one of the following categories:
- Emerging leader in cooperatives, credit unions, or mutual insurance (ages 18 - 35)
- New to cooperatives (fewer than 5 years of experience in co-op work)
- Current post-secondary students of any age