The CO+OP is a non-profit Group Purchasing Organization.

(GPO's) leverage the collective buying power of its members to obtain significant discounts on desired products and services. We focus on service industries such as faith-based nonprofits, schools, and churches.

How is a GPO structured?

The basic elements of a GPO are members, vendors, and GPO staff. Members are consumers of products and services, vendors are providers of those products and services, and the GPO staff is a team of individuals who facilitates mutually beneficial relationships between them.

As a dedicated GPO, the CO+OP staff strives to keep in touch with its member base and convey their needs and feedback to its vendors. Likewise, the CO+OP staff maintains open communication with its vendors, staying abreast of new offerings and specials, and relaying this information back to its members.

What are the advantages of joining a GPO?

• First, members save money. The more members are participating in a GPO, the more vendors are motivated to drive down costs. Therefore, the more vendors a member uses, the more they save.

• Second, members save time. Approved vendors have already been thoroughly vetted by GPO staff, so members do not have to spend hours conducting research and reading reviews.

• Third, members enjoy additional benefits such as coupons, discounts on educational conferences, and access to free resources.

• Finally, members have opportunities to network by attending luncheons, trade shows, and training sessions. Here they can share their experiences and recommendations with like-minded individuals.

Being part of a strong, healthy GPO is an important support system for your organization because it ensures that you are being a good steward of the resources available to you.