As I wrote last month, this year is not business as usual for the cooperative community. From shifting political priorities to stalled federal programs and cuts to international development funding, the challenges are real—and they are immediate. Credit unions narrowly fended off a major threat to their tax status. Domestic cooperative development funding is still in question in Washington, DC. And across all sectors, we face the accelerating disruption—and opportunity—of artificial intelligence.
We cannot afford to meet these realities with a “wait-and-see” posture. The cooperative difference—rooted in democracy, equity and long-term community prosperity—is exactly what’s needed to navigate these turbulent times. But it will only matter if we act together.
That’s why IMPACT 2025 matters.
Taking place October 8 and 9 in Washington, DC, IMPACT 2025 is the cooperative community’s opportunity for strategic conversations—future-focused, solutions-oriented, and leaning into Principle 6, or “cooperation among cooperatives.” We’ll hear from leaders across sectors tackling the most pressing issues of our time: ensuring affordability and accessibility, leveraging AI and data responsibly, building resilient cooperative ecosystems, and sharpening how we communicate the co-op advantage.
This year’s program is designed not just to share ideas, but to build momentum. Through plenaries, breakout sessions and rapid-fire Lightning Talks, attendees will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen their co-ops and the communities they serve.
Join us in October to help shape the solutions that will define the next chapter for the cooperative movement.
And as always, attendees will have an opportunity to share our critical cooperative messages with Congress during our annual Hike the Hill.
As the Year of Cooperatives, 2025 is a rare opportunity to put our business model on the map in a powerful way. We can’t waste it. Join hundreds of cooperative leaders in October to chart a path forward—together.
Registration is open now, with early bird pricing ending on August 29. Join us in October to help shape the solutions that will define the next chapter for the cooperative movement.