Image credits: www.bccm.coop

Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), an ICA member in Australia has launched the country’s first cooperative development fund to provide legal, financial and governance advice.

The Bunya Fund will support up to five prospective or early-stage coops or mutuals by providing capacity building, education and advisory services, valued at between AU$5,000 and $25,000. Any for-profit, not-for-profit organization or charitable cooperatives and mutuals, or other enterprises looking to convert to a cooperative or mutual are eligible to apply for the fund.

BCCM says the Bunya Fund was developed in partnership with its members to address “the critical gap in accessing professional advice and education on the cooperative business model which has resulted in a lack of diversity in Australian social enterprise business models”. Read More.