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Cooperative Development Foundation announces “Do Well to Do Good” Campaign honoring the legacy of Chuck Snyder

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This year’s Co-op 5K honored Chuck’s legacy and kicked off the Do Well to Do Good Campaign. [photo: CDF]
The Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) is pleased to announce the launch of a new fundraising campaign honoring the late Chuck Snyder, longtime board member and supporter of CDF. The first phase of the Do Well to Do Good Campaign has already raised more than $235,000 from current and former board members and colleagues at National Cooperative Bank, where Chuck served as CEO.

To honor Chuck’s legacy and help kick off the campaign, hundreds of cooperators—wearing t-shirts emblazoned with his words, “Do Well to Do Good”—participated virtually and at Hains Point in Washington, DC on Saturday, April 30 in CDF’s annual Co-op 5K.

The early success of this campaign is a tribute to Chuck. It also recognizes the need to continue his work to improve opportunities in under-resourced communities through cooperatives.

Cooperatives are member-owned, democratically controlled business enterprises. By working together to empower themselves, co-ops and the communities they serve drive economic inclusion. More than 65,000 credit unions, rural electric cooperatives, food cooperatives, housing, agriculture, producer, marketing and other co-ops serve the more than 30 percent of Americans who are members. CDF is a charitable foundation with a mission to promote and develop cooperatives to improve economic wellbeing for all.

Chuck Snyder was a cooperative hero. His love of and commitment to cooperatives was clear, simple, and unwavering—co-ops, he believed, are about people helping people. In 1983, Chuck was hired by NCB as corporate vice president and chief financial officer. By 1992, he was serving as the bank’s president and chief executive officer, a position he held until his death in November.

A passionate and tireless advocate for cooperatives across all sectors, Chuck was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2012. He also received the Jerry Voorhis Award from the National Association of Housing Cooperatives for his long-standing commitment to affordable housing cooperatives.

Chuck accepts the “Fantastic Fundraiser” award on behalf of National Cooperative Bank at the 2019 Co-op 5K. [photo: CDF]
The Do Well to Do Good Campaign will support work to empower under-resourced communities and improve homeownership opportunities, including for seniors, through cooperation among cooperatives, Cooperative Principle 6 was a passion of Chuck’s. The campaign will also partner with NCB’s new CDFI, Rochdale Capital, and others supporting under-resourced communities, and engage students and communities from HBCUs, another focus of Chuck’s work and legacy.

CDF hopes to integrate and link this effort to improve housing opportunities with all its home care, senior, cooperative education, and development initiatives.

As Chuck said when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame: “I like to think of cooperatives as double bottom line organizations. You do well, to do good. You make money or save money in some cases, and you use that financial gain to make a difference, which makes a true difference in people’s lives.”

To donate in honor of Chuck, visit cdf.coop or send a check to CDF, 1775 I St., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006. Please indicate that your donation is in honor of Chuck.


The Cooperative Development Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation headquartered in Washington, DC. CDF’s mission is to promote community, economic and social development through cooperative enterprises. 

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