member-owners

Member-owners are individuals who both use and have a stake in a cooperative organization, such as a credit union or community business. Unlike customers or clients, they share in the ownership and decision-making processes, often voting on important matters and sharing in the organization’s profits or benefits. This structure aligns the organization’s goals with the members’ needs, fostering mutual benefit. Essentially, member-owners are both users and stakeholders, working together to support the organization’s success while enjoying the advantages of their shared ownership.