Technical Assistance

Examples of our services:

  • Diagnostic needs and issues assessment

  • Referrals to legal, accounting, and other professional service providers

  • Research

  • Making connections with other cooperatives

  • Designing a fundraising strategy

  • Researching an operational issue such as a personnel policy

  • Financial analysis and set-up of accounting structure and processes

  • Legal structuring and organizational documents (Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation)

  • Identifying/ securing grant funds

  • Feasibility assessment

  • Market research and marketing plans

  • Performance evaluation

  • Webinars on all aspects of cooperative development

  • Communication planning

  • Business planning

  • Membership development

  • Organizational development: developing committees, membership drives, training for boards, staff, and members, strategic planning, conflict management, inclusion and diversity

  • Constructing a financing package

  • Fiscal sponsorship

NCF provides customized technical assistance to housing and worker cooperatives of all shapes and sizes. 

We work with start-ups, established cooperatives, and business or property owners considering conversion of their assets to cooperative ownership. Our staff and consultants bring experience and insight to all aspects of starting and running a cooperatively-owned business.

Our Process

NCF excels at analyzing and diagnosing our clients’ needs, making client-specific recommendations for referrals and resources or providing direct assistance, helping the client create an action plan, and monitoring progress until the plan is completed or terminated.

NCF staff have specialized expertise in housing and worker cooperatives as well as the expertise to provide technical assistance with: market research, business planning, community organizing, enterprise feasibility, financing, accounting system set-up and review, real estate management, private to cooperative business conversions, strategic planning, conflict management, organizational development, legal structuring and training for board, management and members.

We are skilled in managing the special dynamics of individuals working together as a group to consider, undertake or develop a common business venture. Our service delivery approach ensures the group is fully engaged in technical assistance and develops effective leadership skills to manage the challenges of operating a member-owned enterprise.

NCF offers these services to cooperative enterprises in three states. NCF has a multi-state, multi-sector network of public and private organizations, government agencies, consultants and cooperatives to whom NCF can make referrals and tap for assistance. This capacity allows NCF to engage comprehensively with our client’s cooperative development projects.

Request technical assistance

  • Prospective clients fill out a request for assistance to establish a baseline level of information and help us make a referral  to the most relevant resources and staff.

  • Within two weeks, NCF staff respond with preliminary resources or schedule an exploratory conversation.

  • If requested, NCF staff may be able to provide 5-10 hours of pro-bono services.

  • NCF staff help the client determine a plan for next steps, monitor progress, provide information, assist with problem-solving, and make referrals.

Service Contracts

  • NCF formulates a scope of services fee-based proposal to address challenges and needs.

  • If appropriate, NCF assists the group in applying for funding or conducting fundraising activities to pay for services.

  • NCF staff, consultants, and/or partners work with the group to address the business need.

Service Evaluation & Tracking

  • NCF requires completion of a client satisfaction survey after completion of projects.

  • After the close of a contract, NCF staff follow-up every 3 to 6 months to track progress, identify new issues and provide technical and referral assistance.

Ongoing Service Contracts

In some cases, consultation will be intensive and ongoing, based on a service contract. In such a case, the group will receive an annual outcome measurement / census survey and a customer satisfaction survey at the same time.