North American Students of Cooperation

Formed: 1968 Established: 1968

This page last updated:5/17/2013

United States

Canada

North America

NASCO and its affiliated organizations—NASCO Properties (NP), NASCO Development Services, NASCO Community Ownership, Lots in Common (LinC), and the Kagawa Fund—are the mechanisms of North American cooperators for fulfilling the principles of continuous expansion, education, and cooperation among cooperatives. Through education, networking, and direct development, these organizations ensure the continued strength and expansion of the movement.

Organized in 1968, NASCO focused on education and training, particularly the annual Cooperative Education and Training Institute. Today, NASCO provides specialized training conferences for new developers, staff and managers, emerging leaders, and our entire membership. NASCO also provides onsite training and evaluation services, an internship program, networking resources and events, and the voice for a growing segment of the cooperative movement.

Providing technical resources and direct development assistance for new and expanding cooperatives, NASCO Development Services was started in 1987 to reestablish the student cooperative movement's commitment to expansion.

NASCO Properties is a cooperative land trust that maintains buildings and leases them to co-op organizations. Created in 1988 as a subsidiary of NASCO, NP currently leases 13 houses to seven co-ops in six states across the US. It also provides these co-ops with financial management, education, and maintenance assistance until they have grown to a size that supports an independent staff.

Lots in Common is a joint partnership between NASCO and Riverton Community Housing. Modeled after NASCO Properties, LinC exists to accelerate the pace of cooperative development by introducing a new player to the non-profit cooperative development arena.

Named for the Japanese co-op visionary Toyohiko Kagawa, the Kagawa Fund provides pre-development financing assistance to fledgling co-ops.

Status: Movement Organization/Umbrella Organization

Website: http://www.nasco.coop

Contact:

North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO)
PO Box 180048
Chicago, Illinois 60618 United States
Phone: 773-404-2667

View Map of Locations
for this Community

Former/Other Names: North American Student Cooperative League

This page last updated:5/17/2013

Visitors Accepted

(NASCO member coops may or may not allow visitors for 2-3 days, you'll need to contact them directly.)

Visitor Process: NASCO member organizations host traveling NASCO members, provided that they make arrangements well in advance. Non-members may or may not be hosted, if not traveling with a current member in good standing. Always ASK if you may visit, and always do so at least ONE WEEK before you expect to arrive. Bring your own sleeping bag and stories from afar.

Affiliations:

Network Affiliations:

Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC-Michigan)

:: Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC-Texas)

:: Madison Community Cooperatives

:: Michigan State University Student Housing Corporation

:: University Students' Cooperative Association (UC Berkeley)

Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:

Our community does not discriminate in regards to housing based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or being the victim of domestic abuse.

Population Members(adults and children): 8005 Non-member Residents: 0 Open to new members: Yes	Government Decision Making: By majority rule (Consensus is also very common.) Identified Leader: Yes (Executive Director: Tom Pierson) Leadership Core Group: Yes (NASCO is governed by a democratically elected board of directors.)	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances (Most members share food costs) Labor Contribution: Expected (NASCO member organizations require labor; NASCO however does not.) Join Fee: Yes ($37/new member; organizations must register all new members to maintain active status.) Regular Fees: No
Land and Buildings Other (Almost all NASCO member co-ops are located within a few miles of a university or college.) Land Owned By: The community (Equity is held entirely by the not-for-profit cooperative organizations.) Number of Residences: 350 (350 is a rough estimate.) Cohousing: No	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 21-50% (Gardens are not uncommon, but food production is not generally pursued on large scale.) Share Community Meals: Nearly all dinners (Meal preparation varies from co-op to co-op.) Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Other (Our co-ops are disproportionately vegitarian, but many non-vegitarian co-ops exist, and some are vegan only.) Dietary Practice: Other Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Seldom used	Social Factors Educational Style(s): Other

Become an Editor Current editor(s): vlach, nasco

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