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Heirloom Library
Explore trusted sources on employee ownership and democratic governance. Heirloom explains what each source is useful for, so you can follow a guide or look up exactly what you need.
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Showing 32 of 140 published resources.
Reset search and filtersMondragon Corporation
Mondragon’s official overview of its cooperative principles, including democratic organization, sovereignty of labor, participation in management, and intercooperation.
Co-operatives UK
A Co-operatives UK guide explaining sociocracy for co-ops, including consent decision-making, circle working, double-linking, open elections, benefits, drawbacks, and templates.
Sociocracy For All
A detailed case study of Unicorn Grocery, a worker-owned grocery co-op in Manchester using sociocracy in its governance.
Loomio Cooperative
An open handbook documenting how Loomio runs as a non-hierarchical worker cooperative.
Democracy at Work Institute
A Democracy at Work Institute explainer defining worker cooperatives through shared worker ownership and democratic control.
Sustainable Economies Law Center
A SELC practice guide written for attorneys advising worker cooperative corporations.
University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives
A University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives report summarizing governance structures, practices, and culture among U.S. worker co-ops based on survey data.
U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
A USFWC Co-op Clinic mini guide on the role, composition, and accountability of worker co-op boards.
Project Equity
Project Equity case studies of businesses that converted to worker cooperatives, including examples such as Big Timberworks, Namaste Solar, Pattycake Bakery, and Real Pickles.
U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
A USFWC collection of short guides and tools on worker co-op fundamentals, including member engagement, boards, structure, decision-making, onboarding, member removal, and meeting templates.
Co-operatives UK
A Co-operatives UK page highlighting co-ops that have implemented sociocracy, including Equal Care Co-operative, Outlandish, Unicorn Grocery, VME, and others.
Democracy at Work Institute
A DAWI-hosted AORTA resource outlining a conflict-resolution process that can be used by cooperatives.
Co-operatives UK
A Co-operatives UK guide to consent-based decision-making, domains, review dates, decision records, and iterative governance.
Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation
A CWCF guide to decision-making in worker co-ops, including member meetings, board roles, management accountability, and the need for clear authority.
Democracy at Work Institute
A DAWI guide to democratic management practices organized around power, information, people, and money, with tools and examples for worker co-ops and democratic workplaces.
Co-operatives UK
A Co-operatives UK template page offering practical downloads for co-ops beginning to use sociocratic governance practices.
Equal Exchange
A real-world example of articles of incorporation and bylaws from Equal Exchange, one of the better-known U.S. worker cooperatives.
Sustainable Economies Law Center
A SELC article explaining key tradeoffs between forming a worker cooperative as an LLC or as a cooperative corporation.
Democracy at Work Institute
A DAWI guide explaining how governing documents can codify democratic ownership, governance structure, growth, and conflict-resolution pathways.
Sustainable Economies Law Center
A 30-minute SELC teach-in and supporting materials introducing governance, management, board roles, and power distribution in worker cooperatives and worker self-directed nonprofits.
Democracy at Work Institute / South Mountain Company
A practical resource from South Mountain Company with tips for effective meetings and consensus decision-making in worker cooperatives.
Democracy at Work Institute
An editable sample bylaws document for worker cooperatives that can help groups avoid starting their governance documents from scratch.
Sociocracy for All
A Sociocracy for All resource explaining why sociocracy can fit cooperative governance and how consent, circles, and peer learning can support co-ops.
Grassroots Economic Organizing
A worker co-op roundtable from the International Co-operative Governance Symposium discussing sociocracy, hierarchy, flat governance, and cooperative practice.
CooperationWorks
A CooperationWorks article arguing that sociocracy can help worker co-ops avoid informal hierarchy, scale beyond consensus, and build transparent governance practices.
Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation
A Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation starting point with links to a handbook and sections on incorporation, decision-making, business planning, and co-op principles.
workers.coop
A worker-co-op-specific code explaining how cooperative principles apply to worker-owned businesses, including governance, membership, work, capital, and participation.
Sustainable Economies Law Center
A legal and practical manual from SELC, EBCLC, and the Green Collar Communities Clinic on starting and operating a worker-owned business.
Democracy at Work Institute
A plain-language DAWI overview of what worker cooperatives are, how they differ from other models, and how ownership and voting typically work.
Democracy at Work Institute
A presentation from USFWC and DAWN advisors covering the basics of worker cooperative governance and management.
The Democracy Collaborative / Project Equity
A research report by Hilary Abell on barriers and success factors for scaling worker cooperatives, including cooperative culture, training, management, capital, and governance.
CICOPA / CECOP
CICOPA’s international declaration defining worker cooperatives and the core characteristics of democratic worker ownership.