Equity crowdfunding for Co-operatives in Quebec

Equity crowdfunding is gaining traction amongst cooperative projects that promote social innovation. Have the financial tools of cooperatives evolved sufficiently to meet the needs and aspirations of the community? Data on financing by members of cooperatives is available, but is not synthesized and analyzed in a way that could guide managers, directors and the government to make enlightened governance or policy decisions. Cooperatives use different participatory financing strategies depending on their size, affiliation and tax status, creating built in complexity for any turnkey solutions.

With a committee of co-operative sector experts, the project aims to :

  • Produce a synthesis and analysis on equity crowdfunding amongst coops’ community members in Quebec in order to identify development perspectives for financing practices.

  • Contribute to the advancement of knowledge on the use and practices of financing by the community and members of cooperatives.

  • Recommend development paths to improve the practices and tools of financing by the community for cooperatives by taking into account the current exemptions granted by the provincial securities commission to cooperatives, and the provincial Co-op Act.

All interviews and co-design sessions were held remotely due to COVID restrictions.

03/2021 - 06/2021
Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité
Montréal | Québec (remotely)