mapping the social economy:

The co-op and credit union census

Mapping the Social Economy: Mapping the Social Economy:

The first-ever comprehensive The first-ever comprehensive co-op and credit union censusco-op and credit union census

Mark Ventry,Ontario Co-operative Association

May 1, 2008


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


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

Our mission is to develop, unite and Our mission is to develop, unite and promote co-operatives throughout Ontario.promote co-operatives throughout Ontario.


The SurveyThe 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 Why On Co-op ended up in the survey business…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 101Co-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.


Housing 45%

Financial

17%

Child Care17%

Agriculture

Other

15%

6%

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


0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

central southwestern eastern northern

49%

25%

15%

10%

REGIONAL BREAKDOWN OF CO-OPERATIVE, CREDIT UNION & CAISSE POPULAIRE HEAD OFFICES ACROSS ONTARIO


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 SectorHousing Financial Child Care Other

T4ed paid staff 1159 6953 828 6542

T4ed permanent staff 968 6594 549 4437

T4ed non-permanent staff 188 359 276 2105

T4ed full-time staff 720 5777 334 4743

T4ed part-time staff 437 1120 494 1596

Weekly hours worked by T4ed full-time staff 25207 202201 11675 166011

Weekly hours worked by T4ed part-time staff 8626 21861 8899 29754

Weekly hours worked by T4ed paid staff 33833 224062 20574 195765

Non-T4ed paid staff 435 80 63 493


Paid Staff by Sector


Revenue Challenges


Reductions in Government Funding

The co-op and credit union censuswww.coopsontario.com


For further information:For further information:

Mark Ventry, Mark Ventry, Membership & Communications ManagerMembership & Communications Manager

Ontario Co-operative AssociationOntario Co-operative Association450 Speedvale Ave W., Suite 101450 Speedvale Ave W., Suite 101

Guelph ON N1H 7Y6Guelph ON N1H [email protected]

1.888.745.5521

mapping the social economy:

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