The 7 Cooperative Principles

The seven principles every true cooperative in the world stands on.

Recognized internationally and carried into Philippine cooperative law. Here they are in plain words, together with exactly how we practice each one.

One by one

A principle is only real when you can point to the behavior it produces. So each one below comes with ours.

Every principle is given three ways: in plain words, in its formal wording, and in what we actually do about it.

Principle 1
Voluntary and Open Membership
Anyone willing to join and carry a member's duties is welcome. Nobody is forced in, and nobody is shut out.
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
How we practice it: No Filipino is turned away for having no payslip, no collateral, and no credit history. Registration is open, digital, and free of gatekeeping.
Principle 2
Democratic Member Control
The members run the cooperative. Every member gets exactly one vote, whether they put in a little or a lot.
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Members have equal voting rights on the basis of one member, one vote.
How we practice it: One member, one vote, no matter how large or small the Share Capital. Officers are elected by the General Assembly and answer to it.
Principle 3
Member Economic Participation
Members put in the money and own it together. What the cooperative earns comes back to the members instead of to outside investors.
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. Surpluses are allocated for developing the cooperative, benefiting members in proportion to their transactions, and supporting approved activities.
How we practice it: Every member builds Share Capital. Net surplus returns to members as patronage refund and interest on share capital, as approved by the General Assembly.
Principle 4
Autonomy and Independence
The cooperative answers to its members and to nobody else. Outside money never buys control.
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. Any agreement with outside organizations or external capital must preserve democratic member control and cooperative autonomy.
How we practice it: We take no arrangement, with a partner, a lender, or a platform, that would move control of this cooperative outside its members.
Principle 5
Education, Training, and Information
Members are taught how their cooperative works, so they can actually use their vote and their voice.
Cooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively, and they inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
How we practice it: Plain-language terms, open books, and member education at every Coop Outlet™. If a grandmother in a barangay cannot understand it, we rewrite it.
Principle 6
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Cooperatives help each other instead of fighting each other. A stronger movement serves every member better.
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
How we practice it: We build with fellow cooperatives, federations, and unions rather than competing against them, because a bigger movement serves every member better.
Principle 7
Concern for Community
A cooperative is supposed to leave its town better off, not just its own members.
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
How we practice it: Pay It Forward is the whole point: every blessing received is meant to become blessings poured back into the barangay it came from.

Principles, pledge, compass

The seven principles are the ground. The pledge is the promise. The Guiding Principles are the daily compass.

Together they are how a cooperative stays a cooperative, long after the founders are gone.

Seven principles. One cooperative. Every Filipino welcome.

Become a Member Read the Cooperative Pledge

The 7 Cooperative Principles

The seven principles every true cooperative in the world stands on.

Recognized internationally and carried into Philippine cooperative law. Here they are in plain words, together with exactly how we practice each one.

One by one

A principle is only real when you can point to the behavior it produces. So each one below comes with ours.

Every principle is given three ways: in plain words, in its formal wording, and in what we actually do about it.

Principle 1
Voluntary and Open Membership
Anyone willing to join and carry a member's duties is welcome. Nobody is forced in, and nobody is shut out.
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
How we practice it: No Filipino is turned away for having no payslip, no collateral, and no credit history. Registration is open, digital, and free of gatekeeping.
Principle 2
Democratic Member Control
The members run the cooperative. Every member gets exactly one vote, whether they put in a little or a lot.
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Members have equal voting rights on the basis of one member, one vote.
How we practice it: One member, one vote, no matter how large or small the Share Capital. Officers are elected by the General Assembly and answer to it.
Principle 3
Member Economic Participation
Members put in the money and own it together. What the cooperative earns comes back to the members instead of to outside investors.
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. Surpluses are allocated for developing the cooperative, benefiting members in proportion to their transactions, and supporting approved activities.
How we practice it: Every member builds Share Capital. Net surplus returns to members as patronage refund and interest on share capital, as approved by the General Assembly.
Principle 4
Autonomy and Independence
The cooperative answers to its members and to nobody else. Outside money never buys control.
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. Any agreement with outside organizations or external capital must preserve democratic member control and cooperative autonomy.
How we practice it: We take no arrangement, with a partner, a lender, or a platform, that would move control of this cooperative outside its members.
Principle 5
Education, Training, and Information
Members are taught how their cooperative works, so they can actually use their vote and their voice.
Cooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively, and they inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
How we practice it: Plain-language terms, open books, and member education at every Coop Outlet™. If a grandmother in a barangay cannot understand it, we rewrite it.
Principle 6
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Cooperatives help each other instead of fighting each other. A stronger movement serves every member better.
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
How we practice it: We build with fellow cooperatives, federations, and unions rather than competing against them, because a bigger movement serves every member better.
Principle 7
Concern for Community
A cooperative is supposed to leave its town better off, not just its own members.
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
How we practice it: Pay It Forward is the whole point: every blessing received is meant to become blessings poured back into the barangay it came from.

Principles, pledge, compass

The seven principles are the ground. The pledge is the promise. The Guiding Principles are the daily compass.

Together they are how a cooperative stays a cooperative, long after the founders are gone.

Seven principles. One cooperative. Every Filipino welcome.

Become a Member Read the Cooperative Pledge

The seven principles every true cooperative in the world stands on.

A principle is only real when you can point to the behavior it produces. So each one below comes with ours.

Voluntary and Open Membership

Democratic Member Control

Member Economic Participation

Autonomy and Independence

Education, Training, and Information

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Concern for Community

The seven principles are the ground. The pledge is the promise. The Guiding Principles are the daily compass.

Seven principles. One cooperative. Every Filipino welcome.

The seven principles every true cooperative in the world stands on.

A principle is only real when you can point to the behavior it produces. So each one below comes with ours.

Voluntary and Open Membership

Democratic Member Control

Member Economic Participation

Autonomy and Independence

Education, Training, and Information

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Concern for Community

The seven principles are the ground. The pledge is the promise. The Guiding Principles are the daily compass.

Seven principles. One cooperative. Every Filipino welcome.