Mapping the Social Economy:

Mapping the Social Economy: The first-ever comprehensive co-op and credit union census Mark Ventry,Ontario Co-operative AssociationMay 1, 2008

The First-ever Comprehensive Co-op And Credit Union Census

The Ontario Co-operative Association (On Co-op) is a resource and common voice for Ontario credit unions and co-operatives in the areas of co-operative development, government relations, membership and communications, and lifelong co-operative learning. Our mission is to develop, unite and promote co-operatives throughout Ontario.

The Survey • Only legally incorporated co-ops (including credit unions and caisses populaires) • Disregard “co-op-like” organizations • Use databases and search tools to locate co-ops to locate co-ops • Capture the strength of the sector, social & economic impact, asset size, number and types of co-ops; challenges and capacity information

Why On Co-op ended up in the survey business… • The data gathered will be useful for years to come • Relationship building • Develop an up to date database • Future e-directory of co-op organizations and contact information

Co-ops 101 • The co-operative model uses its unique form of business enterprise to accomplish social and policy ends, making them optimal for the delivery of service in the social economy. • Democratic participation through 'one-member, one-vote.' • Responsible to their own members.

Financial 17% Child Care 17% Housing 45% 6% Agriculture 15% Other CO-OPERATIVE SECTORS ACROSS ONTARIO

CO-OPERATIVE SECTORS ACROSS ONTARIO

CO-OPERATIVE SECTORS ACROSS ONTARIO • 1,300 co-operatives, credit unions and caisses populaires in Ontario • more than 1,900 locations • same as number of RBC branches • Asset base of $30 billion • equivalent to BCE or Alcan • 16,500 staff members

REGIONAL BREAKDOWN OF CO-OPERATIVE, CREDIT UNION & CAISSE POPULAIRE HEAD OFFICES ACROSS ONTARIO 700 49% 600 500 400 25% 300 15% 200 10% 100 0 eastern northern central southwestern

GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN • 78% of Ontario’s co-ops serve a building, town or city • 11% serve a larger region of the province • 3% serve all of the province • 3% serve all of Canada • About ½ of 1% are internationally focussed

Membership Numbers • 20% increased membership over the last 5 years; 64% stayed the same; 16% reported a decrease • 29% of Financial co-ops reported a decrease. Child care = 27%; Housing co-ops = 4% • 29% of northern co-ops experienced a membership increase; 22% of south-western Ontario co-ops experienced a decrease

Membership Numbers • 7% of Co-ops with revenues between $500k and $1mm experienced membership growth; vs. 43% with revenues greater than $10mm • Those with revenues greater than $10mm also had the lowest incidents of membership loss at 9%, vs. 28% for those co-ops with revenues of between $30,000 and $99,999 • 77% of co-ops said that “Difficulty earning revenues through membership fees or dues” was NOT a problem

50% Rule • In Ontario, provincially incorporated co-operatives and credit unions must conduct at least 50 per cent of their business with their members.

Volunteers and Board of Directors • 49,000 volunteers in total, incl. 10,000 board members • Housing & child care often require volunteering as requirement of membership • 74% require members to volunteer as part of their membership • 73% experienced a problem in recruiting the type of volunteers needed • 63% of all co-ops had a problem obtaining board members • 76% of all co-ops had difficulty retaining volunteers

Volunteers and Board of Directors

Paid Staff by Sector

Revenue Challenges

Reductions in Government Funding

www.coopsontario.com

For further information:Mark Ventry, Membership & Communications ManagerOntario Co-operative Association450 Speedvale Ave W., Suite 101Guelph ON N1H 7Y6mventry@ontario.coop1.888.745.5521

Mapping the Social Economy: