About
Built by a co-op member, for co-ops.
Housing co-ops run on volunteers, good intentions, and the occasional heroic spreadsheet. MyCoopNest is what happens when someone who has lived that reality decides there has to be a better way.
The story
Why I built it
I've lived in a housing co-op for over 15 years. In that time, I've served on many boards and sat on every committee, which is a polite way of saying I know exactly where the minutes go to hide.
I spent 30+ years behind the scenes building systems and processes where records and accountability aren't nice-to-haves. So I know what a good handover looks like, and how rarely co-ops get one.
During my last year on the board, I built the Nest. Most of us who serve aren't administrators, and we shouldn't have to be. Every future board deserves a handy record to inherit, not a mystery binder.
I built it to do two things: give boards an easy way to record minutes and make them accessible and simplify the membership application process. Volunteers sign up to help their co-op, not to guard personal details in an ever-growing file of applications, most of which will never reach the stage where those details matter. So the Nest keeps applications in the portal, with only the information you need to vet them, and the rest only when it matters.
Once I sat down to build it, the Nest grew into something I didn't see coming.
What's inside
What your co-op gets
Member Experience
A clear home base for members: announcements, how-tos, and the documents they need, without the scavenger hunt.
Board & Admin Tools
Requests, membership applications, and records handled in one place, with the right people seeing the right things.
Space & Scheduling
Book shared spaces and keep meetings organized, so the guest suite and the common room stop playing hide and seek.
Committee Spaces
Give each committee a place to work and report, with reports that flow to the board for review.
Easy from day one
The Nest is simple to use and needs very little training, so members and committees can jump right in, although training is always available.
Looking ahead
Where it's going
MyCoopNest began at my own co-op, and I've learned that no two co-ops run quite alike. So each Nest is shaped around how your co-op actually works. I'm looking forward to learning how yours operates.
Curious what's inside? The Features page has the details.
Say hello
Whether you're exploring options or just want to compare co-op war stories, I'd love to hear from you.
Designed and built in Victoria, BC.