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Equal Exchange Bylaws

A real-world example of articles of incorporation and bylaws from Equal Exchange, one of the better-known U.S. worker cooperatives.

Source: Equal ExchangeAdded June 12, 2026Published 2004
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Why it matters

Real governance documents help founders and advisors see how an established worker co-op translated democratic ownership into legal structure.

Best for

Teams and advisors looking for an example to compare against their own governing documents.

This is valuable as an example, not a plug-and-play template. It shows how one mature worker cooperative documented governance and incorporation choices at a specific point in time. Because it dates to 2004 and may not reflect current law or Equal Exchange’s current documents, it should be reviewed carefully before being used as a model.

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Heirloom Library entries are summaries and wayfinding notes. The original source is the best place to read the full resource.

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