Building stronger, more democratic workplaces — together.

Democratic Management: A Practical Guide for Managers and Others
Management is hard work. Democratic management is perhaps even harder. But the rewards are worth it, and this Guide is here to help. In it, we share practical activities, assessment tools, planning ‘checkpoints,' and meeting instructions to improve your workplace. This is not a complete set of management practices; instead, it is a curated set of tools to help you put more democratic practices in place, no matter where you are on your journey. 
English Guide
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Learn From Our Experts

With decades of experience building, leading, and supporting democratic organizations, our team combines real-world experience with proven strategies to help you navigate the unique transition to a participatory workplace.

You’ll be learning from:
  • Cooperative developers who have launched and transitioned dozens of businesses to worker ownership
  • Facilitators and trainers who help teams put participatory governance, democratic management, and collaborative leadership into practice
  • Experienced managers and worker-owners with firsthand experience balancing day-to-day operations with democratic values
  • Researchers and policy advocates expanding ownership opportunities and closing the racial wealth gap



Bring expert knowledge into your organization — and turn it into action.


What We Offer:

  • On-Demand Courses: Self-paced training on essential skills for democratic management, decision-making, governance, and more.
  • Field-Tested Tools: Practical resources you can use immediately to improve meetings, clarify roles, and support shared leadership.
  • Developer Cohorts: Our hands-on, peer-driven learning experience  builds leadership, deepens ownership culture, and equips teams with the tools to build thriving cooperatives.
  • Personalized Coaching and Consulting: Tailored support to meet your organization’s unique needs — whether you're just getting started or deepening long-standing practices.

Who We Help:

  • Cooperative developers and trainers
  • Worker-owned startups and conversions
  • Democratic nonprofits and collectives
  • Participatory businesses and social enterprises
  • Anyone building shared leadership and collective ownership

We Meet You Where You Are

Whether you're learning the basics or refining advanced practices. Our goal is to make democratic management accessible, practical, and sustainable for all kinds of organizations. Join us. Build the skills, culture, and systems your organization needs to thrive.

PROGRAMS

Workers To Owners

The Workers to Owners Collaborative is a national partnership focused on supporting the conversion of privately held businesses to employee- and worker-ownership, with an emphasis on expanding access in historically underserved communities. Through collaboration with cooperative developers, financial institutions, and community-based organizations, we help ensure that ownership transitions are achievable, sustainable, and strategically aligned with long-term business success.

Rapid Response Cooperative

Rapid Response Cooperatives provide timely, practical solutions for workers facing urgent economic disruption, such as layoffs, business closures, or displacement. RRC initiatives deliver startup guidance, technical assistance, and business development support to help groups of workers launch worker-owned businesses that preserve jobs and retain community wealth during periods of transition.


Vivid Life Home Care

Vivid Life Home Care is a worker cooperative expanding across California as a model for scaling worker ownership in the care economy. Developed in partnership with community-based organizations and national partners, the Vivid Life Home Care Academy provides accessible, multilingual online learning that develops both caregiving and cooperative skills. By equipping excluded workers with tools for professional growth and ownership, Vivid Life advances community-driven solutions that benefit caregivers and the communities they serve.