Co-operative Development Program (CDP) — Co-operators
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
The Co-operators Co-operative Development Program, established in 1992, provides non-repayable grants of up to $20,000 to legally incorporated Canadian co-operatives for business development activities including feasibility studies, market research, business planning, marketing, member engagement, and legal or financial supports. Applicants must cover at least 50% of project costs and be incorporated as a co-operative at time of application. Priority is given to projects in social wellness (mental health for youth), inclusive economy (job skills and employment support), and environmental resilience (low-carbon transition and biodiversity), though other sectors may apply. The annual intake window runs January to mid-April.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be legally incorporated as a co-operative at time of application (articles of incorporation required)
- Project must cover business development costs — not capital expenditures or operational expenses
- Applicant must provide minimum 50% cost-share (grant cannot exceed 50% of total budget)
- Eligible uses: feasibility studies, market research, business planning, marketing, member engagement, legal and financial advisory
- Priority sectors: social wellness, inclusive economy, and environmental resilience (other sectors welcome)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $20,000 (50% of eligible project costs)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Annual — April 15 intake (2026 intake closed; 2027 window opens January)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win CDP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 4-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 2-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe three priority sectors — social wellness (youth mental health), inclusive economy (employment support), and environmental resilience (low-carbon/biodiversity) — explicitly receive preference in evaluation.
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 7
Ineligible Expenses 9
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Applying for CDP? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow CDP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Development Program (CDP... | Up to $20,000 | Easy | Lump Sum | Annual — April 15 intake... |
| Industrial Research Assistance Progra... | Up to $1M | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Applications accepted... |
| Youth Employment and Skills Program | Up to $25K | Hard | Advance Payment | Between intakes —... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CDP