Cooperatives are democratically controlled, member-owned business enterprises. They are formed to help small enterprises gain parity with large investor-owned competitors, to address market failures where neither the private sector nor the government provide a needed service, and to give consumers the choice of an enterprise that better meets their common needs and aspirations.

The Urban Institute is documenting design processes, developing theories of change, and gathering early outcome evidence for publicly and philanthropically supported initiatives aimed at bolstering cooperatives.