Hanover Cooperative Community Fund

Over twenty years ago, the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society’s Board of Directors set up a fund to support other cooperatives—the Hanover Cooperative Community Fund (HCCF). This fund goes toward an endowment helping cooperatives from all different sectors from all over the country. Funds are raised through product sales, member and vendor contributions, and events like our annual golf tournament.

Aligning Cooperative Principle 6, Cooperation among Cooperatives, the endowment supports other cooperatives young and old, near and far and the interest earned on the fund is returned to us for local distribution.

The Co-op’s 2023 HCCF fund will prioritize giving to organizations that fit the following criteria:

a) Alignment with Co-op Values: Employees, Community, Local, and Environment.
b) Organization is new, grassroots, or less resourced.
c) Beneficiaries and/or projects are local to the Upper Valley.
d) The organization and/or project helps to address climate change and/or supports the local food system.

HCCF Gerstenberger Scholarship Fund Application

The Gerstenberger Scholarship Fund (GSF) offers scholarships to members and employees of cooperatives in the Upper Valley who seek to further the cooperative movement through education, training, and/or business development. The Fund is named in honor of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society’s long-serving General Managers, Harry and Arthur Gerstenberger, and first Education Director, Sally Gerstenberger.

2022 HCCF Award Recipients

Last year, we had 9 applicants (all local non-profits) and $15,200 to allocate—with a cap of $2,500 for each project.

The 2022 HCCF Awards are:

• Kearsarge Food Hub – Plastic Reduction Program - $2,500
• Friends of Canaan Village, Inc. – Flower Planters - $1,200
• White River Land Collaboration – Community Gathering Space - $2,500
• COVER Home Repair – Home Weatherization Programs - $2,500
• Growing Peace Project – Teaching Gardens - $2,500
• Friends of Northern Rail Trail – Cycling with Age Program - $2,500
• Vital Communities – Gerstenberger Scholarship for Leadership Upper Valley - $1,500

Thank You

Thank you to our members, vendors, and employees who’ve worked to make this fund grow over the years. We’re not only helping our local community but also cooperatives across the country. Your contributions really do make a difference!