Chester's Community Grocery Co-op empathically believes that an important reason for our success will be that our owner-members have earned their own way to ownership. Therefore, we tend to resist the suggestion from genuinely well-meaning people that they give money to help "sponsor" an owner-member without that person's involvement in some meaningful way.

That said, we do need money to fund our considerable start-up expenses and to lower our carrying costs after we open by reducing the amount we have to borrow. We also expect to create a program to help those in genuine need to be able to join our Co-op. That program will be instituted after the store is up and running. For these uses we welcome gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations. We see the creation of Chester's Community Grocery Co-op as a vital step in the revitalization of downtown Chester. We hope that those who would like to join us in these goals will find an appropriate way to help in these program.

For more information about the Individual Partnership Program, please click here. For more information on the Corporate Partnership Program, please click here.

Patron
At the Patron level of giving, contributions to the Co-op begin at under$200. Patrons are invited to participate in several exciting programs and events throughout the year, and are also entitled to exclusive benefits including guest passes to classes and special family events; as well as an invitation to a special Patrons program and a Director-led tour of the store.

Associate
At the Associate level of giving, contributions to the Co-op begin at $200. Associates along with Patrons are invited to participate in several exciting programs and events throughout the year, and are also entitled to exclusive benefits including guest passes to classes and special family events; as well as an invitation to a special Benefactors program and a Director-led tour of the store. In addition, Associates will be invited to shop in the store on special days throughout the year.

Manager's Council
At the Manager's Council level of giving, contributions to the Co-op begin at $500. Manager's Council, Associates and Patrons are invited to participate in several exciting programs and events throughout the year, and are also entitled to exclusive benefits including guest passes to classes and special family events; as well as an invitation to a special Partners program and a Director-led tour of the store. In addition, Manager's Council members will be invited to shop in the store at any time and will be invited to attend special advisory meetings with the store management.

Corporate Partners
While the business community in the Delaware Valley provides a vital service of providing jobs for our community, many corporations understand the special needs of the city of Chester and desire to aid those businesses whose goal is to help the city become the vital force that it was in the past. To do that, we invite them to become a Corporate Partner with Chester's Community Grocery Co-op. Various levels of giving are available to accommodate the interests of both large and small organizations. There are three defined programs and a custom sponsorship program for your special needs and each of these programs can be accessed at any of the Levels of Giving. Corporate Partners who contribute prior to the store opening will be designated Founding Corporate Partners and their names will be prominently displayed in the store. Foundations can also support Chester's Co-op in exactly the same ways as companies. When they do, their contributions are normally called Grants instead of Gifts. Their support is very welcome.

Charter Corporate Partner
For any sponsorship program to be really successful, their needs to be one company or foundation that takes the lead in giving support. That company we are designating our Charter Corporate (or Foundation) Partner. If you company feels that the opportunity to support our Co-op is sufficiently important to the revitalization of Chester's Central Business District that they want to take on that lead role, we would like to discuss it with you.

Matching Gifts
One of the best ways for a company to support our Co-op is by a matching gift. Our owner-members pay $250 to join the Co-op and that amount can be matched by a company in many different ways to great effect. For example, they can match the contributions to the Co-op as a whole at the $250 level, or at a lower or even higher level; or they can match the contributions of their employees at some level. Matching gifts give an even greater incentive to the owner-members to join, and give a very powerful impetus to success for the Co-op.

Corporate Challenge Gifts
A Challenge Gift or Challenge Grant is usually a gift that comes from a corporation or foundation that will challenge others to give at a certain level and then will make a donation if the "challenge" is met. This company or foundation will only make its gift (say $10,000) contingent on being equally matched by another donor or number of donors by a certain date.  If the contribution is from a foundation, it is usually called a Challenge Grant. In both cases the outcome is the same - to encourage others to maximize their gift with a challenge or matching gift from another giver. Companies or Foundations can offer to support our Co-op with a Challenge Gift that offers to contribute at any level, but tied to a specific time period or activity. For example, a company can offer to match every owner-members contribution in the month of November; or before the store opens; or match all corporate gifts during the next month.

Custom Sponsorship Programs
There are many sponsorship opportunities offered by the Co-op that may complement your corporation's programs. By working closely with corporate sponsors, the Co-op staff can tailor programs to optimize the corporation's involvement with the activities of the Co-op, with the entrepreneurs who lease our second floor shops and with the community service rooms and demonstration kitchens on the third floor. While you demonstrate your corporation's good citizenship, the Co-op benefits from your financial support.

Corporate (or Foundation) Levels of Giving
Bronze under $5,000
Gold $5,000 - $14,999
Silver $15,000 - $34,999
Platinum $35,000 - $74,999
Diamond $75,000 and above

Interested?
For more information about the Individual Partnership Program, please click here. For more information on the Corporate Partnership Program, please click here. You m ay also contact Joe Henwood, Co-op Treasurer, at 610-420-5510, or email partnership@chestercoop.com .