What role do members play in a purchasing cooperative?

Members of a purchasing cooperative play an active role in decision-making, which is critical for the cooperative's operations and success. This structure emphasizes the idea that members come together to collectively enhance their purchasing power, negotiate better deals, and share resources. Because they are stakeholders, members are usually involved in important decisions regarding how the cooperative is run, from selecting products and suppliers to deciding on policies and strategies.

In purchasing cooperatives, each member typically has a voice, reflecting the democratic principles upon which many cooperatives are founded. This participation in decision-making ensures that the cooperative aligns with the members' needs and priorities, ultimately enriching the cooperative experience and promoting a sense of ownership among members. This contrasts with other options, such as merely providing funding, which does not capture the full extent of involvement members have, or being uninvolved in operations, which undermines the cooperative model's foundational principle of member engagement.