CCCD helps people use the cooperative model to cooperatively accomplish what they may not be able to achieve on their own. CCCD provides assistance to groups wanting to create affordable home ownership opportunities by starting a housing cooperative, or to parents who want to form a child care cooperative to gain affordable, high quality care with hours or other options that fit their needs. 

Cooperatives share many characteristics of other businesses but they are also unique; for this reason one of the seven core cooperative principles states the importance of ongoing education and training for members, elected board of director, and staff. CCCD offers training and support that help cooperatives thrive. CCCD offers education in a variety of ways, including annual conferences.