Cooperative Development Foundation
The Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) is a Washington, DC-based public charity that builds the capacity of the cooperative business community through grantmaking and programming. Founded in 1944, it is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA).
Cooperative Development Foundation at a glance
In short: Cooperative Development Foundation gave $3.3M across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $95K), mostly in District of Columbia. 54% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,336,040
- +316.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- +66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $95,315
- +150.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $12,927,391
- +12.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (19 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cooperative Development Foundation
- How to Apply
-
For the Cooperative Development Fund, submit a concept note; applicants selected by the Fund are asked to submit a full proposal. Cooperative Education Fund applications are accepted through the process described on CDF’s website, which requires a project evaluation within 30 days of completion for a grant recipient to be considered for a future grant.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1725 I Street Nw 300, Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 383-5440
Website: https://cdf.coop
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from Cooperative Development Foundation
Bill Gessner GM Coaching Award
Cooperative Development Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
CCMA Scholarships Grant
Cooperative Development Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
CoBank University Giving Fund
Cooperative Development Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Cooperative Development Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Cooperative Business Association ($1.7M). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 103 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Cooperative Development Fund makes grants to organizations in the United States. In 2025, 52% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC, 15% to Colorado, 7% to Kansas, 5% to Wisconsin, and 4% to Massachusetts. CDF’s disaster-recovery work can also support cooperatives and communities outside the United States; its stated examples include Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Uganda, and Ukraine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Cooperative Development Foundation open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 19 of 35 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $176K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $23K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $425K (2022) to $3.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Cooperative Business Association Washington, DC | Multiple Fiscal Sponsorships; Nationwide Foundation Grant support | $1,745,248 |
| University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | Cooperative Education Fund - Building the Field | $483,212 |
| Kansas State University Foundation Manhattan, KS | Multi-year grant for general support | $249,469 |
| Cooperative Development Institute Northamptom, MA | Education | $84,400 |
| Florida Electric Cooperatives Association Inc Tallahassee, FL | Disaster Relief | $52,936 |
| Georgia EMC Foundation Inc Tucker, GA | Disaster Relief | $52,936 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | Education | $52,281 |
| Farm Generations Cooperative Cooperstown, NY | Co-op Start Grant | $50,000 |
| Green River Meats Campbellsville, KY | Co-op Start Fund | $50,000 |
| Southern Wisconsin Meat Cooperative Blachardville, WI | Co-op Start Grant | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cooperative Development Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,927,391 | $4,648,973 | $4,943,904 | $3,336,040 | 35 | $565,832 |
| 2024 | $11,532,146 | $2,504,826 | $2,250,410 | $800,463 | 21 | $496,891 |
| 2023 | $11,173,928 | $1,741,895 | $2,825,612 | $1,328,671 | 14 | $476,223 |
| 2022 | $11,289,391 | $3,402,428 | $1,828,510 | $424,800 | 16 | $201,407 |
| 2021 | $11,536,159 | $1,339,020 | $1,833,797 | $866,546 | 17 | $371,619 |
| 2020 | $11,133,173 | $982,341 | $1,875,786 | $1,230,907 | 32 | $306,886 |
| 2019 | $11,139,658 | $1,267,667 | $1,572,895 | $475,762 | 21 | $282,894 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CDF’s mission is to build the capacity of the cooperative business community to solve societal challenges, reinforce democratic decision-making, and improve economic opportunities for all. Its strategic work includes strengthening the national cooperative support system, developing leadership across sectors, and using place-based demonstrations to develop and share models for connected cooperative economies.
The Cooperative Development Fund supports cooperative development, research, and technical assistance. Its stated areas include cooperatives serving seniors, international cooperative development, and affordable housing. For 2026, it prioritizes work addressing affordable housing through limited-equity housing cooperatives, good jobs through worker cooperatives, and healthy food through food cooperatives. It gives priority to established cooperative-support organizations that work collaboratively and develop replicable models, and to place-based initiatives with potential for broader impact. Projects must be in the United States. The Fund does not support general operating expenses, capital expenditures, endowments, or organizations located outside the United States.
CDF also operates the Cooperative Education Fund, which supports cooperative research, educational materials and programs, events, and scholarships. Its website says the Education Fund does not support proprietary materials, general operating expenses, capital expenditures, endowments, local-event sponsorships, projects outside the United States, or projects that have already occurred. Materials developed with its support must be available to all at little or no cost.
In its 2025 grants, CDF supported organizations with varied cooperative-related missions. NCBA CLUSA describes itself as an association that advances and protects cooperatives through advocacy, public awareness, education, and cooperative development. The ICA Group says its mission is to advance businesses and institutions that center worker voice, grow worker wealth, and build worker power. North American Students of Cooperation describes work supporting campus cooperatives, while Beverly-Vermont Community Land Trust describes work to keep working-class communities of color in their homes through permanent affordability and democratic community ownership.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CDF reported 35 grants totaling $3,336,040. Grant amounts ranged from $6,368 to $1,745,248, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $1,745,248 to the National Cooperative Business Association for “Multiple Fiscal Sponsorships; Nationwide Foundation Grant support”; $483,212 to the University of Colorado Foundation for the Cooperative Education Fund’s “Building the Field” work; and $249,469 to the Kansas State University Foundation for multi-year general support. Other grants included $84,400 to Cooperative Development Institute for education, $52,936 each to Florida Electric Cooperatives Association and Georgia EMC Foundation for disaster relief, and $52,281 to University of Wisconsin Foundation for education. CDF also awarded $50,000 each to Farm Generations Cooperative, Green River Meats, Southern Wisconsin Meat Cooperative, and Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises for co-op start grants or fund support.
The Cooperative Development Fund uses a two-stage process. Applicants submit a concept note, and those selected are invited to submit a full proposal. The concept note requests information about the applicant’s capacity and population served, the proposed work and its deliverables, measurable outcomes, a high-level budget narrative, and how success and lessons will be shared. The Fund’s Board of Advisors reviews concept notes and supporting materials, and the CDF Board of Directors approves them. CDF’s 2025 filing states that it requests grant applications and budgets before funds are expended and grant reports at the end of the grant period.
The Cooperative Education Fund offers grants of $1,000–$10,000 and reports providing $100,000–$140,000 annually in grants, scholarships, and sponsorships. Its website describes 10–15 grants for cooperative education programs and 12–15 event sponsorships each year. Separately, CDF’s Disaster Recovery Fund supports cooperatives and their members recovering from natural disasters and other crises; its funding depends on fundraising for the cooperative sector.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
CDF’s 2025 filing lists Julie Bosland as Executive Director. John Holdsclaw IV is listed as Board Chair, Larry Blanchard as Vice Chair, and Adria Powell as Secretary. Christina Jennings served as Board Treasurer through September 30, and Holly Jo Sparks began serving as Board Treasurer on October 1. Other listed board members are Richard Larochelle, Deborah Trocha, Michelle Schry, and Devin Fuhrman.
The filing states that members of the Cooperative Development Foundation, who are the board of the National Cooperative Business Association, elect five of the nine allowed CDF governing-board directors.
Cooperative Development Foundation is led by Julie Bosland, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Julie Bosland
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
24 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Holdsclaw IV
Board Chair
Director → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Jennings
Board Treasurer
Treasurer & Secretary → Board Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Trocha
Board Member
Vice Chair → Director, 2023
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Devin Fuhrman
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Blanchard
Vice Chair
Director → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Larochelle
Board Member
Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adria Powell
Secretary
Director → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirstie E Boyette
Deputy Director
Associate Director → Deputy Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holly Jo Sparks
Board Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Schry
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Cornelius Blanding (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Linda Tank (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Griffin (2021–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Rich Larochelle (2023–2024) — Board Chair
- Former: Judy Ziewacz (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Leslie Mead (2019–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Chuck Snyder (2021) — Director
- Former: Charles Snyder (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Cooperative Development Foundation
How much does Cooperative Development Foundation give each year?
Cooperative Development Foundation gave $3.3M across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $800K across 21 grants.
What is Cooperative Development Foundation's typical grant size?
Cooperative Development Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $95,315, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cooperative Development Foundation that year got $27K on average.
Where does Cooperative Development Foundation give grants?
Cooperative Development Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (15%) and Kansas (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), Denver, CO (2 grants), Madison, WI (2 grants) and Great Falls, MT (2 grants).
Does Cooperative Development Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of Cooperative Development Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 35) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Education" (13 grants), "Co-op Start Grant" (6 grants) and "Disaster Relief" (4 grants).
Who are Cooperative Development Foundation's largest grantees?
Cooperative Development Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Cooperative Business Association ($1,745,248), University of Colorado Foundation ($483,212) and Kansas State University Foundation ($249,469), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cooperative Development Foundation?
Cooperative Development Foundation reported $12.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.6M.
What does Cooperative Development Foundation fund?
CDF’s mission is to build the capacity of the cooperative business community to solve societal challenges, reinforce democratic decision-making, and improve economic opportunities for all. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cooperative Development Foundation?
For the Cooperative Development Fund, submit a concept note; applicants selected by the Fund are asked to submit a full proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cooperative Development Foundation's EIN?
Cooperative Development Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7044533. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 12, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cooperative Development Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in District of Columbia
WK Kellogg Foundation
Battle Creek, MI
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation funds work to help children, families, and communities thrive, including early education, health equity, food systems, family economic well-being, and racial equity. In 2025, its grants ranged from $50 to nearly $5 million, with a median of $100,000; it funds across the United States, with long-term commitments in several states and communities, as well as parts of Mexico and Haiti. It accepts unsolicited proposals online at any time.
Assets
$481.0M
Grants
1,818
Total Given
$303.9M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
NCRC Community Development Fund Inc
Washington, DC
NCRC Community Development Fund supports affordable housing and homeownership, small businesses—especially minority-owned, women-owned, and low-income businesses—and certain nonprofit programs that provide capital or services to underserved communities. Its listed awards range from $5,000 to $50,000, though typical giving is not stated; it serves communities across the U.S., with some programs focused on Illinois. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$55.6M
Grants
2,666
Total Given
$149.3M
Greater Washington Community Foundation
Washington, DC
The Greater Washington Community Foundation supports nonprofits working across areas such as economic opportunity, education, health, arts, and human services, with an emphasis on equity and economic justice. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, and it generally funds organizations serving DC, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and specified Northern Virginia communities; it offers scheduled open competitive grant rounds as well as invite-only opportunities.
Assets
$518.3M
Grants
1,417
Total Given
$116.9M
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Washington, DC
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation makes competitive grants for science-based projects that conserve or restore fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats; it does not fund advocacy or litigation. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $106,500, and it supports projects across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Applications are competitive and program-specific; whether pre-proposals are required varies by program.
Assets
$3.6B
Grants
1,286
Total Given
$464.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in District of Columbia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cooperative Development Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cooperative-development-foundation-morg_4159c372c728473ca08fbc02b67e98c6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237044533_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cooperative Development Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cooperative-development-foundation-morg_4159c372c728473ca08fbc02b67e98c6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Cooperative Development Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Cooperative Development Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?