UWCC Services
The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC) helps groups, businesses, organizations, and communities develop strong cooperative solutions. We provide technical assistance, education, facilitation, research, and strategic guidance for cooperative start-ups, cooperative conversions, and existing cooperatives seeking to grow or strengthen their operations.
Whether you’re exploring a new cooperative, transitioning a business to employee or cooperative ownership, or building the capacity of an existing organization, UWCC offers practical support tailored to your goals and stage of development.
Services We Provide
We help emerging groups move from an idea to an operational cooperative through:
- Referrals to legal, accounting, and financing resources
- Cooperative education and training
- Exploration and feasibility support
- Business planning guidance
- Organizational and governance design
- Stakeholder engagement and member recruitment
- Financial and capital planning
UWCC works with business owners, employees, and advisors exploring cooperative ownership transitions by providing:
- Business succession planning support
- Cooperative conversion education
- Employee ownership transition guidance
- Governance and ownership structure development
- Stakeholder engagement and communication planning
- Referrals to specialized legal and financial professionals
We help cooperatives build effective leadership and decision-making systems through:
- Leadership development
- Board development and training
- Governance assessments
- Strategic planning
- Succession planning
- Facilitation and conflict navigation
- Membership engagement strategies
UWCC provides educational and facilitation services for cooperatives, organizations, communities, and partner networks, including:
- Workshops and training programs
- Conference presentations and webinars
- Meeting and retreat facilitation
- Research and analysis
- Resource development
- Community education and outreach
How Services Are Funded
UWCC provides services through a combination of grant-funded programs and fee-for-service consulting.
Grant-supported assistance allows us to offer certain services at low or no cost to eligible clients, depending on available funding and program priorities.
Fee-for-service consulting provides customized support for projects requiring more intensive engagement, specialized expertise, or long-term assistance.
During an initial conversation, our team can help identify available funding opportunities, determine eligibility for grant-supported programs, and discuss consulting options that fit your project’s needs.
Let’s Talk
Every project is different. We encourage prospective clients to contact us for an initial conversation about their goals, challenges, and support needs. Our team can help identify available resources, determine eligibility for grant-supported services, and discuss fee-for-service options when appropriate.
