One of the greatest challenges for cooperatives and federations isn’t the work they do—it’s making that work visible. Inside our movement, we know the cooperative difference is profound. We see it in the way members thrive, in the local economies we strengthen, and in the communities we serve. But outside our movement, that story is too often untold—or, worse, unheard.
At Principle 6, we’re building tools to change that.
The Member Benefit Statement – Under Development
Right now, our team is hard at work developing the Member Benefit Statement, a digital tool designed to help cooperatives clearly show their value to their members.
This isn’t just a pretty report—it’s a data-driven snapshot of the tangible benefits members receive. Think:
- Financial metrics showing savings, patronage returns, and community reinvestment
- Engagement insights like voting participation, member involvement, and event attendance
- Operational performance benchmarks for transparency and accountability
Built into the Principle 6 platform, the Member Benefit Statement will give co-ops an easy, consistent, and credible way to demonstrate value to their own members. It’s designed for internal trust-building—rooted in transparency, accuracy, and pride.
Introducing the Cooperative Impact Statement
But our story doesn’t end at the member level.
If we want to grow the cooperative movement, attract new members, and win stronger support from our communities, we need a way to tell our story publicly. That’s where the Cooperative Impact Statement comes in.
The Cooperative Impact Statement will be a public-facing version of the Member Benefit Statement—focused on the value a cooperative or federation brings to the broader community. It’s designed for media, local stakeholders, policymakers, funders, and anyone curious about the cooperative difference.
Instead of only sharing financial returns, it highlights:
- Economic contributions (jobs created, local spending, tax contributions)
- Social impact (community programs, volunteer hours, education initiatives)
- Environmental stewardship (sustainability efforts, resource savings)
- Member & community stories that bring the data to life
In short—it’s about showing, not just telling the impact of cooperative work.
Why This Matters for Cooperatives and Federations
Both the Member Benefit Statement and the Cooperative Impact Statement are designed to help every part of the cooperative ecosystem tell its story more effectively—whether you’re a single cooperative or a federation representing many.
For cooperatives, these tools provide a clear, credible way to show members and the public exactly how you’re creating value—financially, socially, and environmentally. They build trust, foster engagement, and give you powerful content for annual reports, marketing, and community outreach.
For federations, these tools make it possible to measure and communicate the collective impact of all member co-ops. That could mean producing an annual sector-wide impact report, using aggregated data for advocacy with policymakers, or showing prospective members the tangible benefits of joining your network.
In short—whether you’re strengthening relationships with your members or raising visibility across your sector, these statements give you the facts, the format, and the framework to make the cooperative difference impossible to ignore.
How These Tools Work Together
- Member Benefit Statement: Internal/member-facing. Builds trust, strengthens engagement, and shows members exactly what they’re getting.
- Cooperative Impact Statement: External/public-facing. Raises visibility, drives recruitment, and tells the cooperative story to the world.
Both tools are rooted in credible data and a consistent format—so whether you’re showing impact locally, sector-wide, or nationally, your story is backed by facts and aligned with the larger movement.
What’s Next
- The Member Benefit Statement is currently in development, with early testing planned for beta cooperatives in the coming months.
- The Cooperative Impact Statement design process is underway, shaped by input from cooperatives, federations, sector leaders, and communications experts.
- Both tools will be available on the Principle 6 platform, with templates, guides, and training to make adoption easy.
Call to Action
If you’re a cooperative or federation interested in shaping these tools—or being among the first to pilot them—reach out to the Principle 6 team
Your input will help ensure these statements not only measure what matters, but tell your story in a way that inspires action.
Because the more clearly we can show our value, the stronger our movement becomes.