David J Thompson

Biography and About

Black-and-white portrait of a bearded man, David J Thompson, in sunglasses and a striped shirt holding a pen near his chin

David J. Thompson of Thompson Consulting and former co-principal of Neighborhood Partners, LLC, has worked for the national cooperative organizations of the United States, Japan and the United Nations. In 2010, he was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame. David was at the United Nations and the White House to celebrate the 2012 UN International Year of Cooperatives. In 2013, David received the Voorhis Award, the highest honor of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC) and in 2022 the President’s Award.  David is lead narrator on “Food For Change”, (2014) a film on food co-ops. David was advisor to” Common Good” (2021) a film about racism/co-ops. 

Vintage black-and-white photo of a smiling bearded man, David J Thompson, and two children sitting outdoors, reading newspapers in the UK.

From 1985-1991, David was Vice President, Western States and Director, International Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association. From 1976-1985, David co-chaired California’s efforts to create the National Cooperative Bank (NCB), was the first NCB co-op employee (1980), then Director of National Planning and later Regional Director of NCB's 13 state Western Region where he supervised loans to develop over 2,300 units of co-op housing. One of his projects, Santa Rosa Creek Commons won a HUD award. David was a board member of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) $3.8Bn in sales, 22 million members, the world’s largest consumer co-op. 

Black-and-white photo of two men in suits at a co-op promoting social event.

David is President of the Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation (TPCF). Under David’s leadership, TPCF has created Cooperative Community Funds (CCF) for 45 US food cooperatives. TPCF is the largest co-op funder of US cooperative development organizations leveraging yearly $50 million in capital.  For its work on CCF, TPCF was presented with the 2019 CCMA Board Service Award.

 In 1979, David lobbied for passage of AB 1364, (Bates), the nation’s first law creating Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives. In 2010, David led the drafting of a full revision of the law, AB 1246 (Jones). David created the Kagawa Fund with funds raised from Japanese and US Co-ops. David is a co-founder of Co-opportunity, the largest food co-op in Southern California (sales of $20 million). He is also vice-chair of the Yolo Federal Credit Union; a community-chartered credit union ($400M+ in assets).

Black-and-white photo of David J Thompson discussing cooperative housing policy with Mario Cuomo at a public social event. Cuomo holds a book in his hand titled "Forest Hills Diary: The crisis of low income housing"

David authored Co-opportunity: The Rise of a Community Owned Market and Weavers of Dreams: Founders of the Modern Cooperative Movement. . David wrote Credit at the Grassroots for the United Nations. He co-authored Cooperation Works! and A Day in the Life of Cooperative America. David was Editor of Where Credit Was Due, the creation of the National Cooperative Bank. He has written over 400 articles for the Co-operative News (UK) the Cooperative Housing Quarterly (USA), Co-op Weekly, Communities, Davis Enterprise, In Context, Non-Profit Quarterly, Northern Life (UK), Post & Courier, Ramparts, Sacramento Bee, Shareable, Shelterforce, Progressive the BBC and others. His book, “Against Slavery and for Civil Rights: Cooperatives” is out in 2028.

Black-and-white photo of two men in suits reading and signing a book; the younger man standing on the left wears a name tag reading “David Thompson.”

David has the world's largest private library on co-ops. He was born in Blackpool, England, and lived also in Boston, Lincolnshire. David is winner of the “Cooperative Service Award” from the Consumer Cooperative Management Association and twice “Author of the Year” from NAHC. David has a Licensed Trade Diploma from Blackpool Technical College, UK, an AA from Santa Monica College where he won the Dean Ruenitz Award and a BA (Sociology) and an MA (Architecture & Urban Planning) from the University of California at Los Angeles where he won the Dean's Award for Community Service.  In 1973, with his brother, Philip as Director, David co-produced “A Place Called Ardoyne” (Won the Silver Hugo Award, Chicago Film Festival) about the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. David wrote the film narration for Stephen Rea, Oscar Nominee for Best Actor in the “Crying Game.” For his work in affordable housing and cooperatives, commendations have come from the California Assembly and Senate and members of the US Congress.

Black-and-white photo of a bearded David J Thompson in front of assorted papers and a typewriter.

Make it stand out.

  • 1995 Davis Food Co-op award certificate honoring David J. Thompson for dedication and service to cooperative ideals

    The Davis Food Co-op

    1995

    David had been involved with the Davis Food Co-op for a number of years, so it is by no surprise that he has been honored with the recognition of this particular consumer cooperative.

  • Plaque honoring David J. Thompson with the Consumer Cooperative Management Association Cooperative Service Award, dated May 12, 1995.

    Consumer Cooperative Management Association

    1995

    The Cooperative Service Award was presented to him as an honor of David J. Thompson’s continual support of cooperative movements.

  • Framed NASCO Campus Cooperative Hall of Fame plaque honoring David Thompson, inducted in 1994.

    NASCO

    1994

    NASCO, also known as the North American Students of Cooperation, is a group dedicated to the education and continuance of affordable housing cooperatives based in the United States and Canada. David was recognized by the group due to his offering guidance and advice for the group, due to his expertise in developing cooperative housing initiatives.3

  • California Legislature Assembly resolution dated June 5, 1995, honoring David J. Thompson, with the state Capitol illustration, blue ribbon, seal, and signatures of Thomas M. Hannigan and Richard Katz.

    California State Assembly

    1995

    In recognition for community leadership relating to the Davis Food Co-op, California Mutual Housing Association, the National Cooperative Business Association, and advising numerous cooperatives nationally and internationally.

  • Santa Monica City College

    1969

    Presented by the Santa Monica City College for David’s scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and service.

  • Plaque recognizing David J. Thompson for longstanding support and guidance to the Center for Cooperatives, presented in May 2003 by the University of California, Davis.

    Center for Cooperatives

    2003

    The Center for Cooperatives, an initiative which sprung out of UC Davis, presented to David an award for his continual work on the Policy Advisory Committee.

  • California State Senate certificate honoring David J. Thompson as a Cooperative Hall of Fame inductee, presented May 18, 2010, in Davis, California.

    California State Senate

    2010

    David J. Thompson was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame, and was recognized by the California State Senate for that and his continual leadership in the Cooperative Community.