This vision is in the Exploration & Feasibility stage of Materialization & needs a lot of development, feedback, reflection, refinement!

Worker- Members

Draft v0.3 | 2025-Oct-09

The operational structure of the Erefugia Cooperative is designed to balance legal accountability, operational efficiency, and democratic participation. At the top of the hierarchy is the Executive Team who together provide legal representation, financial oversight, and governance transparency.

Reporting directly to the CEO are the Directors of Service Delivery, each responsible for one of the cooperative’s four major service pillars: Human Services, Artistic Services, Technical Services, and Organizational Services. These leaders coordinate across sub-areas within their pillars, set priorities, manage resources, and ensure that service delivery aligns with the cooperative’s mission and strategic objectives.

Beneath each Service Delivery Leader are the Service Delivery Team Leaders, who oversee specific operational areas such as shelter or food under Human Services, or project services under Technical Services. Team Leaders manage day-to-day operations, supervise team members, track progress, and report outcomes to their respective Service Delivery Leader, as well as deliver services themselves.

While these roles carry operational responsibility, all Directors of Service Delivery and Delivery Leaders and Team Leaders are also worker–members, participating in the cooperative’s DAOs and democratic governance processes. This layered structure allows the cooperative to scale as new services or modules are added, while preserving the principles of transparency, accountability, and shared stewardship. Legal and fiduciary responsibilities remain with the executive officers, operational execution is coordinated by the Service Delivery Leaders and Team Leaders, and policy and strategic direction are guided by the Board of Directors and DAO-based decision-making. Together, this framework ensures that the Erefugia Cooperative can deliver resilient, mission-aligned services while maintaining a participatory and community-centered governance model.

Planned for 2026

Planned for 2027

Executive Team

Chief Executive Officer

The CEO, also serving as the General Manager, is the primary legal representative of The Erefugia Cooperative in all external matters, including contracts, partnerships, and official filings. This role oversees the cooperative’s day-to-day operations, ensuring that each team and service area functions in alignment with the cooperative’s mission, values, and strategic priorities. The CEO coordinates between departments, facilitates communication across teams, and provides leadership for long-term planning and organizational development. While accountable to the Board of Directors, the CEO’s role is both operational and strategic, balancing legal responsibilities with the facilitation of cooperative, participatory decision-making.

🙋 Supervising (1) additional Team Members by 2025-Mar-21

Chief Financial Officer

The CFO manages all financial aspects of the cooperative, including accounting, budgeting, and compliance with applicable laws and cooperative regulations. This role maintains accurate and transparent financial records, oversees the Cooperative’s books, and ensures proper management of equity, investment shares, and patronage allocations. The CFO provides regular reports to the Board and membership, supporting informed decision-making and democratic accountability. Operationally, the CFO collaborates with department leads and the CEO to align financial planning with ongoing projects, technical infrastructure, and community services, ensuring that resources are used effectively in pursuit of the cooperative’s mission.

Chief Governance Officer

The Chief Governance Officer is responsible for maintaining the integrity, accessibility, and completeness of all governance and operational documentation. This includes membership registers, meeting minutes, resolutions, filings required by law, and other records essential to the cooperative’s legal compliance. Beyond these statutory duties, the CGO ensures that information is accessible to members and participants, supporting the cooperative’s ethos of openness, accountability, and shared stewardship. Operationally, this role facilitates communication between the Board, executive officers, and members, enabling smooth governance processes and fostering trust across the cooperative. The office of the CGO also performs HR functions, including managing payroll and facilitating benefits coverage for working-members.

🙋 Supervising (1) additional Team Members by 2025-Mar-21

Human Services

Director, Human Services Delivery

Reports to the CEO. Coordinates across sub-areas within the human services pillar, setting priorities, managing resources, ensuring that their Service Delivery Team Leaders have what they need, and ensuring that service delivery aligns with the cooperative’s mission and strategic objectives.

Shelter Team Leader

Water Team Leader

Food Team Leader

Energy Team Leader

Medical Care Team Leader

Medical Supplies Team Leader

Communication Teams Leader

Transportation Team Leader

Artistic Services

Director, Artistic Services Delivery

🙋 Supervising (1) additional Team Members by 2025-Mar-21

Production Team Leader

🙋 Supervising (1) additional Team Members by 2025-Mar-21

Resale Team Leader

Marketing Team Leader

🙋 Supervising (1) additional Team Members by 2025-Mar-21

Agency Team Leader

Technical Services

Director, Technical Services Delivery

Reports to the CEO. Coordinates across sub-areas within the technical services pillar, setting priorities, managing resources, ensuring that their Service Delivery Team Leaders have what they need, and ensuring that service delivery aligns with the cooperative’s mission and strategic objectives. Performs internal IT functions for the cooperative.

🙋 Supervising (1) additional Team Members by 2025-Mar-21