David J Thompson

Biography and About

A black-and-white photo of D J Thompson who has written hundreds articles on coop co-op cooperatives

From 1985-1991, David served as Vice President, Western States and Director, International Relations for the National Cooperative Business Association. As a US delegate for the NCBA, he attended International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) meetings in Hamburg, Basel, Budapest and Manchester. From 1976-1985, he 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 commendation award. Additionally, David was a board member of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) $3.8Bn in sales, 22 million members, the world’s largest consumer co-op. 

David has been to Toad Lane, Rochdale, where the modern Co-operative Movement began in 1844 when working-class weavers and artisans known as Rochdale Pioneers began their first store many times. He has worked with multiple Mayors of Rochdale, including John A. Beasley, Arnold Bagnall and Alan Godson.

As President of the Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation (TPCF), David also 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, he 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, he led the drafting of a full revision of the law, AB 1246 (Jones). He also created the Kagawa Fund with funds raised from Japanese and US Co-ops and is a co-founder of Co-opportunity, the largest food co-op in Southern California (with sales of $30 million). As vice-chair of the Yolo Federal Credit Union, he oversees a community-chartered credit union with $400M+ in assets

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. David received the Voorhis Award in 2013, the highest honor of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC), and the President’s Award in 2022.  He is also lead narrator on “Food for Change,” a 2014 film on food co-ops. He was an advisor to ”Common Good” (2021), a film about racism/co-ops. 

David is a prolific writer, having authored Co-opportunity: The Rise of a Community Owned Market and Weavers of Dreams: Founders of the Modern Cooperative Movement. He co-authored Cooperation Works! and A Day in the Life of Cooperative America. He also wrote Credit at the Grassroots for the United Nations. As Editor of Where Credit Was Due, he also was part of 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, NonProfit 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 2026.

David also 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 was the recipient of the Dean's Award for Community Service.  In 1973, with his brother, Philip Thompson as Director, David co-produced the documentary film “A Place Called Ardoyne” about the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland, which won the Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago Film Festival. 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.

Make it stand out.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 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.

  • 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

    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.