Cooperative Development Foundation

www.cdf.coop

The Cooperative Development Foundation is a 501 © 3 charitable family of funds that advances economic development through cooperative enterprise.

The Cooperative Development Foundation was created in 1944 in the wake of World War II. First known as The Freedom Fund, the organization was created to help in the reconstruction and development of overseas cooperatives in Europe in the post-war era. The following year, the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) and CDF played an integral role in creating the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, which provided economic relief to war-torn Europe. NCBA President Murray Lincoln was the first president of that organization, now known and recognized worldwide as CARE.

In the 1980’s the Freedom Fund was renamed the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) and with that new name came a focus on domestic cooperative development. Our mission is to promote community, economic, and social development through cooperative enterprises. CDF’s purpose is threefold:

  • Raise and distribute funds for cooperative economic and community development projects.
  • Build partnerships that create cooperative solutions to today’s economic problems.
  • Raise awareness of the role cooperatives play in the nation’s and world’s economies.