Become a Supporting Member

Patronage is your share of the co-op’s annual surplus earnings (profits). Each year, the Cosmos Council determines how much of the surplus to distribute to members. Supporting Members receive patronage based on their financial contributions to Cosmos—the more you contribute, the larger your patronage share. This is calculated automatically and distributed according to our Constitution. You’ll receive detailed guidance about claiming your patronage distribution when it’s available.

Yes! You can upgrade or downgrade your membership level at any time through your account dashboard. Changes take effect at your next billing cycle. Your patronage share adjusts accordingly based on your total contributions for the year.

Cosmos is a cooperative, which means it’s owned and democratically controlled by its member-users. Unlike extractive platforms, we circulate value back to the community that creates it. We also strive for integral, people-centered experiences across all of our online and in-real-life offerings: modeling vibrant intentional community, stimulating conversation, and inspiring collaboration that offers a meaningful alternative to corporate social platforms. Learn more about Cosmos as a platform & cooperative →

Soon, Sponsors and Benefactors will be able to allocate a portion of their member dues to directly support individual Creative Members or their creative projects. We’re currently working on this feature for a likely release in early 2026; we will notify all Sponsors and Benefactors when it’s fully operational. In the meantime, you can directly support Creatives by engaging with their offerings and events.

Our Colorado Front Range Local Hub hosts in-person gatherings, performances, potlucks, and creative showcases. If you provide a Colorado address when joining, we’ll automatically connect you with local hub activities. For past events, check out our Stellar Sundays series at Longmont Public Media. More about local hubs →

Creative Members contribute their artistic work, writing, teaching, or other creative offerings to Cosmos. This membership type involves an application process and different participation expectations. Supporting Membership is a great way to get to know the community first! When you’re ready to explore Creative Membership, visit our Creative Member application page →

Cosmos Cooperative is organized as a Limited Cooperative Association (L.C.A.), not as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so membership fees are generally not tax-deductible as charitable contributions. However, your patronage distributions may have tax implications—you’re responsible for reporting these on your personal tax returns. We will provide guidance on claiming your patronage allocation on your taxes, and we recommend consulting with a tax professional about your specific situation.

Our newsletter just for members features new Creative Member profiles, latest offerings and events open for enrollment, updates on new benefits being rolled out, highlights and stories from the member experience, and community announcements. It’s curated specifically to help you stay connected and make the most of your membership.

Yes. We’re always sorry to see members go, but we understand circumstances change. You can cancel your membership at any time through your account dashboard. If you cancel, you’ll retain access through the end of your current billing period. Your Member Account balance (accumulated patronage) will be settled according to the terms in our Constitution—typically with a 6-month holding period. If you encounter any issues cancelling from your member dashboard, contact support@cosmos.coop.

Our Sustainer level, starting at $12/month, is designed to be accessible to most people. Although we offer free guest accounts on our forum, we do not offer co-op membership without some form of dues payment. However, Creative Members who are accepted through our application process may be eligible for financial aid.

We’re continuously expanding member benefits and platform features. Upcoming additions include in-depth video walkthroughs of the platform, online courses on creativity and cooperativism, creator monetization features, and enabling a rich array of community-sourced offerings. Members and guest accounts can view our complete benefits roadmap →