informatics cooperative

The Informatics Cooperative delivers digital information solutions through an equitably owned, collectively operated enterprise. By blending technical expertise with a stable, community-centric, democratic business model, we provide community infrastructure and partners with data solutions that help ensure resiliency.

in·​for·​mat·​ics: The interdisciplinary science of how information is stored, processed, analyzed, and used. It sits at the intersection of people, technology, and data, focusing on translating raw data into meaningful, accessible knowledge.

co·​op·​er·​a·​tive: An autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.

Values

  • Systems Thinking
  • Council
  • Consensus
  • Common Good

Values in Action

Systems Thinking: We analyze and build for the entire lifecycle of your digital infrastructure, ensuring integrations are seamless, sustainable, and scalable.
 
Council & Consensus: Our governance structure, relying on council and consensus, means every member-owner is deeply invested in operational excellence. We use consensus-driven frameworks, at appropriate scale and scope, to ensure project alignment, transparent communication, and high-quality execution.
 
​The Common Good: As a cooperative, our success is directly tied to the health of the communities we serve and live within. We prioritize long-term public value over short-term quarterly returns.

Our Background

​The Informatics Cooperative is built on a foundation of enterprise-scale expertise. Our member-owners bring decades of combined experience engineering and operating in complex, high-security systems, including:
 
  • ​Operationally Critical IT Architecture: Designing and scaling resilient infrastructure for federal systems where uptime and reliability are paramount.
  • ​Cybersecurity & Data Analytics: Protecting sensitive information assets and driving data-informed intelligence at the federal agency level.
  • ​Program Management & Complex Logistics: Operating in a human-centered, cross-border logistics program for a major international governmental organization.

Cooperative Principles


1. Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Those serving in delegated positions are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote).

3. Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4. Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

5. Education, Training, and Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected delegates, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

6. Cooperation among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

7. Concern for Community
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.