In the Cooperative Community

Hanover Cooperative Community Fund:
A Plan for the Future

Co-op shoppers will be hearing and seeing a lot more about the Hanover Cooperative Community Fund (HCCF) as the charitable foundation’s fund-raising campaign swings into action.

The Co-op’s Board of Directors established the HCCF as a permanent endowment fund earlier this year. The Board estimates that proceeds from the HCCF eventually will replace most of the Board’s giving budget, which currently takes its funds from the Co-op’s bottom line. To accomplish this, however, the HCCF must build a substantial principal investment that will generate enough interest to provide for a meaningful giving program. Annual earnings of at least $10,000 will be necessary before the HCCF will begin to disburse money to the community. Assuming a return of five percent, this would require a principal of at least $200,000.

A History of Giving
The Co-op’s commitment to charitable giving is part of how we meet two of the seven Cooperative Principles that govern cooperatives world-wide: "Concern for Community" and "Cooperation Among Cooperatives."

Many Co-op members may not realize the extent of the Co-op’s current giving program. Since 1990, the Board has donated over $180,000 to local non-profits and to cooperative organizations on a local, national, and international level.

A portion of this giving is in the form of small donations made to local non-profit groups, generally as in-store vouchers used to purchase food or supplies for fund-raising activities, outreach efforts, or worthy causes such as alcohol-free graduation parties.

The Board of Directors has established criteria for giving that requires local recipients to be non-profit, nonpartisan, and to not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or physical disability. Funds are not given for religious purposes, and the program being supported should benefit Upper Valley communities.

At the end of the fiscal year, the Board determines how much it will give in the form of large contributions, based on the Co-op’s net savings. The Board currently restricts its large donations to local health and human services agencies and to organizations devoted to cooperative education and development. Funds have also been given to provide disaster relief for fellow cooperators such as coffee growers in countries ravaged by natural disasters.

Who can donate to the CCF?
Businesses, organizations, and individuals are encouraged to donate to the CCF endowment fund at any time. One does not need to be a member of the Co-op in order to support this community foundation. Donations can be made at either Co-op Food Store Service Desk, at the registers, or by mail (CCF, Hanover Co-op, PO Box 633, Hanover, NH, 03755).

We also ask that you support the CCF by participating in raffles, silent auctions, or other forms of fund-raising that will occur periodically. And we are always looking for individuals who would be interested in volunteering their time to help raise funds for the CCF.

For more information, or to volunteer to help fund-raise for the CCF, call the Board Administrator at (603) 643-2667 or e-mail comment@coopfoodstore.com.

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