# Cooperative Living Communities

> Connecting compatible people for long-term residence sharing


## Pages

- [Subscription Details](https://icmatch.org/subscription-details/): To select one of the options above, log in then go to the Subscribe tab. Reach out if you have questions about subscription details that aren’t answered below. Whole Database Search Limiters With this upgrade get instant access to powerful search tools that let you quickly and efficiently explore our entire set of 500+ profiles. Visibility Boost With this upgrade, others can more easily identify your shared interest in a specific community type. Without a subscription, your profile is still searchable and shows up on the Match for Free page. The visibility boost is available as a standalone subscription at […]
- [Low-cost Properties for Residential Intentional Communities](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/affordable-housing/low-cost-properties-for-residential-intentional-communities/): Cooperative land financing for multiple owners requires creative approaches to finding low-cost properties and building community support. You’ll need to consider a range of unconventional real estate options and be prepared to navigate legal and social challenges. Please contact help@icmatch.org if you find outdated information on this page or wish to contribute new information. photo by Juan Cruz Mountford Finding the Real Estate There are several types of properties that are suitable for cooperative ownership because they are often available at a lower cost or come with existing infrastructure. Securing Property for a Fraction of the Cost There are three […]
- [Benefits of Cooperative Land Ownership Over Deed-based Traditional Ownership](https://icmatch.org/contracts/benefits-of-cooperative-land-ownership-over-deed-based-traditional-ownership/): The benefits of cooperative land ownership over traditional deed-based ownership are primarily centered around affordability, long-term stability, and a strong sense of community. Affordability and Shared Costs In a traditional deed-based system, a single individual or family bears the entire financial burden of purchasing and maintaining the property. In contrast, cooperative ownership models—like a community land trust—separate the ownership of the building from the land itself. Long-term Stability and Community Control Deed-based ownership can be unstable, as property values fluctuate with the market. Individuals can be priced out of their neighborhoods by gentrification. Cooperative models provide a buffer against these […]
- [Pakistani Intentional Community](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/pakistani-intentional-community/): Build Community in Pakistan Members Interested in Pakistani Intentional Community ICmatch can connect you with communitarians who have similar interests and values. The members listed below have subscribed to be featured on this page. For even more members with interest in this type of community, visit the Match for Free page linked in the header. آی سی میچ تاسوته د هغو کمیونټي ممبرانو سره رابطه برابروي کوم چې د تاسو سره مشترک اګدار لري۔ لاندې لیکل شوي  ميمبرانو په دې صفحه سبسکرایب کړي دي. که تاسو د دې کميونټي په شان نور ميمبرانو کې دلچسپي لرئ، نو په هیډر کې […]
- [Agreements Template: Pet Policies](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/agreements-template-pet-policies/): The following is an agreements template for pet policies based on three cohousing communities that are largely consistent with policies of most standard housing developments. Permitted Pets & Registration Allowed Pets: Residents may keep common household pets such as dogs, cats, small birds, fish, and small caged mammals (e.g., hamsters, guinea pigs). Excluded Pets: Potentially dangerous, exotic, or farm animals (e.g., reptiles, certain dog breeds identified as aggressive, livestock) are generally not permitted. Registration: All pets must be registered with the Cohousing Community Board/Pet Committee upon arrival and annually thereafter. Registration includes providing current vaccination records, microchip information, and emergency […]
- [Partnering With Land Trusts](https://icmatch.org/partnering-with-land-trusts/): Whether urban or rural, land trusts and residential intentional communities share common goals. Partnering with land trusts could include the non-profit purchasing the land and maintaining ownership, or the land trust may offer legal services. There are two main types: Land Trust Directories Partnering With Community Land Trusts (Urban) Community land trusts found in urban settings typically focus on affordable housing and sometimes co-operative governance. Potential benefits to residential intentional communities include the following: Partnering With Conservation Land Trusts (Rural) Foremost among the benefits rural land trusts can provide to landowners are alleviation of tax burden thru a conservation easement. […]
- [Difficult Conversations Series for ICs](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/conflict-sources-in-intentional-communities/difficult-conversations-series/): photo by Fa Barboza The Difficult Conversations series is meant to contribute topics that other IC-focused organizations weren’t already covering in their courses and forums.  Time and Place 7:30 pm ET each first Tuesday of the month Link to register: https://cultivate-caring.community/get-involved/ Facilitators Roger Balson is a skilled facilitator focused on human connection. He has hosted online live groups each Tuesday for three years as part of a project described at Cultivating Caring Communities. For the Difficult Conversation Series (first Tuesdays of the month) he is joined by Ardell Broadbent, a 5-year court-rostered mediator. Consultants focused on residential intentional community are encouraged […]
- [The Accountability Meeting & Power Dynamics](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/conflict-management-in-intentional-communities/the-accountability-meeting-power-dynamics/): Accountability Meeting Everybody’s shit stinks. All of us humans have some potentially annoying characteristics, even if they’re arguably not our fault. A regular meeting that holds everyone accountable for their impact on the group could work wonders in cohesion. Picture a meeting in which everyone takes a turn admitting an unadmirable trait that may be affecting the group. Some, if not all, could take a turn as a complainer. The intent is to encourage improvement without anyone feeling uniquely demoralized or feeling attacked. For clarity, the following description of this type of meeting will refer to the accountability role, the […]
- [Founders' Meetup](https://icmatch.org/founders-meetup/): Would you be interested in attending a two-day, three-night founder’s meetup event to collaborate with others who are currently planning and/or newly implementing residential intentional community? It would be free as a work trade. (The (r)evolution will not be commoditized.) Each adult would be asked to contribute 1 hour of work to benefit the lodge owner and event planner (suggestions at the end), 1 or 2 hours of help with meal prep or meal clean up, and change bed linens the last morning, before leaving. Who: 10 IC Founders+Partners That would add up to between 10 to 20 adults who […]
- [You might be an ecovillager if...](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/join-or-start-an-ecovillage/you-might-be-an-ecovillager-if/): You consider poop a valuable resource. Your family thinks you may have joined a pagan cult. There don’t seem to be any truly straight lines in sight. At least half of your on site residents are living in conditions that housing authorities would designate as unsafe or substandard. “Circle process” of any kind sounds like a welcome pastime instead of making you want to hide. You don’t go to hippie festivals; the hippie festivals come to you. Cold showers and/or jumping in any outdoor water are considered healthy and possibly your main way to get clean. Indoor plumbing is a […]
- [Community Agreements Example](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/community-agreements-example-multi-house-collective/): General Community Agreements •      Community agreements as per Requirements and Maintenance for Community Membership/Partnership & Committees (1/9/2012) •      Community members will abide by guidelines of Fiscal Policy (5/15/2012) •       Decisions are made by creative alignment •       Use respectful voices and actions (12/28/2011) •       We support the fourth amendment and the safety of the entire community (12/28/2011) •     We honor diversity in belief systems, spirituality, and ceremony (12/28/11) •     We have a commitment to transparency (12/28/2011) •      Leave all community spaces clean and organized (10/20/2011) •      When using community-owned items or items lent to you within the community, leave them in as […]
- [Nomadic or Time-flexible Stays](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/nomadic-or-time-flexible-stays/): Photo by Olena Sergienko What these community types have in common is that they are more likely to be a temporary stay such as a sabbatical year in a foreign destination, a snowbird lifestyle, or a trial run to see if a situation is going to work out. Below are links for resources targeting these types of lifestyles. See also the individual pages to connect with more specialized resources for the type of nomadic or time-flexible stays you’re interested in. Expat residential communities RV or mobile home parks as intentional community Van dwelling co-travelers Join a household as a trial […]
- [The Cold Hard Truth About Foundation Grants](https://icmatch.org/financing-intentional-communities-by-grants/the-cold-hard-truth-about-foundation-grants/): photo by Dorian Mongel Let’s face some uncomfortable facts about non-profit foundation grants: It seems so unfair for foundations to collectively have billions of dollars in their coffers, while so many social needs remain unmet. Instead of staying cynical about this, let’s face some uncomfortable facts about us idealists who tend to be resentful of this situation. How to Start Your Non-profit Project Next Steps Jumpstart Intentional Community With Grant-funded Consulting Foundations have one of three strategies to select fund recipients: offer RFP or application, approach with LOI, or invite-only, How to write an LOI
- [Share-your-home Option With Grant-funded Support Services](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/affordable-housing/grant-funded-consulting-series/): When homeowners can offer a rental on online platforms, which have ratings and handle the financial transactions for you, why would anyone choose a different way? The short answer is, the share-your-home program is about more than offering housing. It’s about friendship, mutual support, and compassion for like-minded people who are in a tough situation. We recognize that it can feel risky and unfamiliar to share your extra space, so we have set up some support services to help homeowners decide what’s workable and prepare for a successful home share. You might need assistance setting up legal agreements and finding […]
- [Sample Letter of Inquiry for Grant Writing](https://icmatch.org/financing-intentional-communities-by-grants/grant-writing-tips-for-residential-intentional-communities/sample-letter-of-inquiry-for-grant-writing/): This sample letter of inquiry may give you ideas. Some elements may not apply to you, but hopefully this will get you started. photo by Unseen Studio If not using your organization’s letterhead stationary, begin with standard business letter form with the following information flush left, in five separate lines: street address; city, state/province zip code; email address; phone number; date. To the Board of the __________ Foundation: [or to the designated contact person] I am writing to ask whether your foundation [use the full name if you have addressed the contact person instead of the board] would be interested […]
- [Grant Writing Tips for Residential Intentional Communities](https://icmatch.org/financing-intentional-communities-by-grants/grant-writing-tips-for-residential-intentional-communities/): These grant writing tips use the term program, but most of the tips could apply to an agricultural or housing project. There’s a key difference in focus between projects and programs. photo by Christin Hume Find Aligned Grant Makers Carefully investigate grant maker priorities and funding focus areas to find the right funder match. See our lists of foundations, which include a few government or corporate grant makers too. These lists are intended to help you identify foundations that share a similar core mission or goals and have already supported ventures or projects in the listed topic areas. Search the […]
- [Caretaker Work-trade for Housing-insecure Families](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/affordable-housing/caretaker-work-trade-for-housing-insecure-families/): This program seeks to connect elderly homeowners with families in need of a rent discount in exchange for caretaking. Affordable housing has become a nationwide concern. Rising rents have been devastating for families that had been barely making ends meet. While housing policy advocates struggle to make headway, one avenue for immediate support is to find mutually beneficial ways to help homeowners share the extra spaces. From a city planner perspective, this increases the number of units within the currently available housing. A caretaker work-trade agreement allows people to give mutual support, where the aging can get their changing needs […]
- [Financing Intentional Communities by Grants](https://icmatch.org/financing-intentional-communities-by-grants/): We understand that financing intentional communities by grants can feel daunting for founders. We hope our free lists of foundations with aligned funding priorities gives you a place to start. Also, our experienced grant writing consultants may help. Unless otherwise noted, the lists on this page are mainly foundations that indicated individuals or groups might be funded without having non-profit status. Partners for Financing Intentional Communities by Grants Non-profit fiscal sponsors: These “umbrella organizations” can act as important partners in grant-funding. For instance, you might find a local certified non-profit willing to receive a portion of funding as the administrator […]
- [Plan for a Small Age-in-place Community](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/senior-cohousing/age-in-place-residential-community/plan-for-a-small-age-in-place-community/): Are you on your way to retirement? An increasing number of people facing retirement decisions are looking for ways to maintain their independence and ensure a high quality of life as they age. For the most part, the wealthy can simply pay for services, and may be interested in consultants and paid executors taking over to set up their retirement cohousing. However, those with limited resources and those who don’t have children or other trusted heirs to help manage their care, may have anxiety about who will make decisions for them if they experience mental decline. Joining or establishing an […]
- [Guidelines for Agreements with Non-shareholder Members](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-non-shareholder-community-agreements/): These guidelines for residential intentional community agreements are to help shareholders in a cooperatively managed property or business ensure that their needs and preferences are met. At the same time, it is important to create a respectful environment for those who are not shareholders. Some balk at any perceived inequity or hierarchy within community. However, it is fair that those who have invested most and have the most to lose should have more power over final decisions. Ideally, non-shareholders will have a path to become shareholders. Clarity about shareholder decisions can help potential new members of a community understand whether […]
- [Age-in-Place Residential Community](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/senior-cohousing/age-in-place-residential-community/): You’ve worked hard to reach a comfortable standard of living. You want to live the remainder of your life being around people who have similar values who enjoy some of the same pastimes that you do. You don’t want to get stuck in a rest home in your later years, so you’ll want to include some younger folks willing to fill some personal caretaking roles when needed. You want to contribute purposefully to a better world, in a way that your investments make a long-term impact. Creating residential community that will last longer than your lifetime is a way to […]
- [Jumpstart Intentional Community With Grant-funded Consulting](https://icmatch.org/team-up/resources-for-founders-groups/grant-funded-consulting-series/): Having created resources to serve teams attempting to found a residential intentional community (IC), we recognize that the obstacles to this founding are immense. While we offer ICmatch as a free platform for communitarians to find each other and evaluate their compatibility, founders need so much more support. They need marketing so potential members can find them on ICmatch. They need assistance setting up legal documents, finding funding sources, and access to leadership resources. Yet they most often lack sufficient funds for these services. Grant-funded consulting could be the key to progress toward a group’s goals for intentional community. We […]
- [Physical Security for an Intentional Community](https://icmatch.org/safety-precautions/physical-security-for-an-intentional-community/): The following are ways to promote the physical safety of an intentional community. Physical security is especially important for those that house overnight a vulnerable population or that are located in a less safe locations. photo by Maria Steenberg Nielsen Security Guards Few intentional communities are likely to have funds to hire a security guard. An alternative could be offering reduced rent or free housing to a qualified guard, if the need is great. If you have sufficient numbers of qualified members, taking turns as a night guard could work. It is less disruptive to sleep if one person is […]
- [Case Study: Leadership Dysfunction in an Intentional Community](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/governance-of-intentional-community/case-study-leadership-dysfunction-in-an-intentional-community/): The Need for Written Agreements describes several benefits that clear agreements provide. The following case study, describing an experience of the ICmatch founder, can help illustrate how written agreements are necessary but not sufficient to avoid leadership dysfunction. Preface My conviction about written agreements came out of my and my teen’s experience in a residential intentional community (IC), as well as seeing the disillusionment and reactions of those we shared that time with. After nine months of volunteering every other week, we lived and worked on site for four months. I want to say up front that I strongly believe […]
- [Limits of Written Agreements](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/importance-of-written-agreements/): Written agreements are necessary but not sufficient. Here’s what it takes to make sure agreements are kept: IC leadership consultant Nicole Hartley Bradford states the following about community agreements: I don’t think you want to attract people to your projects who are not actively working to shift from states of power-over. Such states on an individual level perpetuate the hierarchical models of modern culture on a group level. I think it’s reasonable and understandable to anticipate that people will break agreements, because there isn’t yet training that works widely available about how to change your mind with clarity and integrity. […]
- [Housing Resources for the Roaring Fork Valley](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/affordable-housing/rental-housing-search-tips/housing-resources-for-the-roaring-fork-valley/): As in many areas, seasonal workers and newcomers are finding it difficult to locate affordable housing. The following housing resources may help. Facebook Pages Roaring Fork Rentals and Roommates is a mediated FB site. You might need to be already in the area to be accepted to join. NEW Roaring Fork Rentals And Roommates By OWNER Local Property Managers Current rentals available thru a local property manager will often show up on Zillow or other platforms. Most will require long-term lease and a credit check, possibly also a background check. Generations that do most of their searches online often haven’t […]
- [Intentional Community as a Work Team](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/community-as-a-work-team/): Groups planning an intentional community as a work team should first be compatible as a leadership team. They may co-own or collectively operate a business or project. They may or may not live in the same building as each other or in the same facility where they work. Either way, they will closely share space and resources, so they will need a high level of compatibility and cooperation. Retreat or event hosting as a community vocation Recreation venture teams coliving Artist collective & live/work space Activist commune & shared work Many intentional communities function as a work team to keep […]
- [Needs-based Housing & Social Safety Nets](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/needs-based-housing-social-safety-nets/): Groups planning an intentional community based on creating a non-profit to meet a social need should first be compatible as a leadership team. Carefully consider the level of support you can deliver as you start out. It’s important not to overwhelm your team early on, so you may plan increasing your number of needs-based members over time. Housing for vulnerable populations Shelters for homeless Medical risk bubble Senior cohousing or coliving ICmatch guide to creating shelter and treatment-based intentional communities: focuses on several of the most vulnerable populations such as trafficked women and children Leftover Love: a non-profit that collects […]
- [Self-sufficient and Sustainable Community](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/self-sufficient-and-sustainable-community/): The resources listed here apply to each of the housing and land-sharing types below. These have the most focus on self-sufficient and sustainable community. In addition, ecovillages have ecological preservation as a core value. Small farm or ranch Ecovillage or urban agrihood Off-grid homestead settlement Disaster prep timeshare cabin Grants These foundation grants do not require that you be or partner with a non-profit agency or government. Resources for Self-sufficiency and Sustainability Platforms or directories for self-sufficient communities: See the descriptions of the Global Ecovillage Network, Worldwide Opportunities on Organic farms, Ecobasa (primarily in Europe), freedomcells.org, and workaway.info. Wild Community […]
- [Shared Values as the Basis for Community](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/shared-values-as-the-basis-for-community/): All the intentional community types have some type of shared values, yet some are more specifically values-centered in departing from mainstream assumptions of self-interest being the main guiding principle. This makes them the least transactional of relationships. This gives them both a heartfelt idealism and at the same time a vulnerability to being worn down or destroyed by the entry of those who see a potential for exploitation. In addition, the community-based relationships could be destroyed by those who have no intention to do so, but who simply are not ready to take on the necessary roles and attitudes to […]
- [Community for Digital Nomads](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/community-for-digital-nomads/): British author David Goodhart coined the terms somewheres and anywheres to describe people who are more locally rooted (and usually more socially conservative) as opposed to globalists who are well adapted to change (who often crave variety). A life of travel often appeals to young adult city dwellers who find interchangeable services in any metropolitan area. Somewheres build up social capital, while anywheres must rely more on financial capital and transitory friendships to meet their needs. Somewheres seem more likely to value stable community relations, yet anywheres also recognize the need for community, typically forming it online. Some groups, such […]
- [Family-focused Community Types](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/family-focused-community-types/): photo by Patty Brito The Power of Family-focused Community Community life offers numerous practical benefits to families, providing crucial support that extended family or a traditional village once supplied. In an era where many households grapple with the demands of raising children alongside challenging financial situations and rising housing costs, fostering communal ties can be a lifeline. Scroll past the community types photos for more benefits of family-oriented residential intentional communities. Many families explore specific housing types and intentional communities as part of their quest for a supportive and enriching environment. Various housing options appeal to families seeking different living […]
- [Affordable Housing](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/affordable-housing/): How to find affordable properties Affordable Housing is a Priority Concern for City Planners When employees can’t find affordable housing (YVHA, 2023, p. 3): In addition, social service agencies can fail to meet local needs: Many regions need more housing supply currently. One goal of ICmatch is to make available more of the existing housing stock by helping people find others they’d feel comfortable inviting into their space. So many people have had bad renter experiences and don’t want to risk it again. If they can identify others with similar values, they may be willing to try again. While ICmatch […]
- [Rental Housing Search Tips](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/affordable-housing/rental-housing-search-tips/): Avoid scams! This article explains how to spot them. Properties Listed on Online Platforms for Lease or Rent Many rental listing platforms are not well maintained and contain outdated prices. This happens with sites that rely on people to remove their own listings once they are no longer available. When you reach out to someone who seems to be offering a price below what’s typical, it may have been posted years ago. Below are platforms that prevent long-outdated listings. HomeShareOnline.org Zillow Rental Listings Zillow has probably the most to offer currently, if you are searching for longer-term rentals. Upsides include […]
- [Resources for Founders' Groups](https://icmatch.org/team-up/resources-for-founders-groups/): If you’re particularly attentive to consistency, you might notice sometimes we refer to a founders’ group and other times to a founders’ team. The difference (we feel) is that a group becomes a team when it has defined roles and develops cohesiveness. The following resources for founders’ groups are offered to help you become a team. Getting Started Free short starter ebook: A guide from The Foundation for Intentional Community (a separate organization from ICmatch) Starting a community course: An affordable self–paced online course from The Foundation for Intentional Community Roles and Work Assignments You may be impatient because your […]
- [An Invitation to Co-create Intentional Communities](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/an-invitation-to-co-create-intentional-communities/): In The Fourth Turning, Marshall (1997) defines the purposes of community as (a) resilience versus economic subservience, which could also be defined as voluntary simplicity; (b) spirituality, which could be defined simply as service and equity; (c) a center of research, documenting progression of new ideas. This website intends to help you develop self-sufficiency so you can disconnect yourself from systems of exploitation, then help others to co-create residential intentional communities. The most invisible type of intentional community, that looks fairly mainstream from the outside, is to join two to five houses in sharing resources. Starting small and gradual in […]
- [Prepare Yourself to Contribute](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/prepare-yourself-to-contribute/): The Playbook: Participate in evolving Definition of playbook: “…or a notebook containing descriptions of all the plays and strategies used by a team, often accompanied by diagrams, issued to players for them to study and memorize before the season begins.” Don’t sit on the sidelines this season. Find teammates who have complementary skills and resources. Get your team in the field. Here you will read about strategies. Find the parts that fit your interests and aptitudes. Here’s how one long-standing team coach Joanna Macy describes the plays: We can see this great turning happening simultaneously in three areas or dimensions […]
- [Warning](https://icmatch.org/safety-precautions/warning-and-danger-signs/): All good things can be exploited. Residential intentional community is no exception. Research shows that one in four Americans doesn’t have even one person they feel they can confide in. More than ever, people report feeling lonely. This can leave some people vulnerable to being taken advantage of when they meet people who seem to be generous and caring. Even people with the best of intentions can end up putting you in a difficult situation that they didn’t intend to, sometimes due to unclear communication. This list of safety precautions for intentional community is meant to help you take care […]
- [Keep Rental Terms and Rules Fair](https://icmatch.org/contracts/keep-rental-terms-and-rules-fair/): by Ardell Broadbent After eight months of volunteering for an intentional community, and then renting a house there for four months, I saw many people move in, temporarily or hoping for a long term stay. They came full of enthusiasm. Some were inspired by positive reviews from short-term residents. Everyone eventually left. I want to share my observations in a way that could help interested individuals evaluate ICs, but this could also help owners or managers. These are changes that I would want to see, as a potential community member, before I would feel safe or willing to join a […]
- [Financing for Intentional Communities](https://icmatch.org/financing-for-intentional-communities/): We understand that financing for intentional communities can feel daunting for founders. We hope the following resources and tips can help. In addition, see our Consultants page for finance and realty specialists. Most groups planning an intentional community face a similar hurdle in their quest for affordable housing that accommodates themselves and those they care about. Below are some options communities have used for the lease or purchase of their building or land. Financing Community Real Estate Thru Non-profits Financing Community Real Estate With Loans Seller-financed Loans Providers Affordable Housing Advocacy and Strategists Short Term Strategies for Beginning Founders Further […]
- [Leadership Skills and Principles](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/governance-of-intentional-community/leadership-skills-and-principles/): For a wide range of issues, from climate change to fighting corruption, the here and now of our local communities point to solutions to these challenges.…It can be difficult to see the opportunity amid the chaos and fear that abounds, but make no mistake: The next decade will belong to those who can take the bottom-up grassroots energy unleashed by radical connectivity and marry it with effective, engaged leadership to craft stable and responsive institutions….It will belong to those who gaze beyond the chaos. (Mele, 2013, p. 266) What we need are more people who have the capacity and interest […]
- [Team Building: Interpersonal Skills](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/team-building-interpersonal-skills/): Your group needs people who, if there were to be a supply chain disruption or natural disaster, would share their last provisions with each other. Your group needs people who, if a member had a crisis, would let another member couch-surf a few weeks and help them strategize to get back on their feet. Especially for those without family, your group needs people who, if a member had a devastating accident, would take them into their home while recuperating. At the same time, an inherently kind temperament is not enuf. Interpersonal skills include the capacity for effective boundaries. What builds […]
- [Social Justice Work](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/social-justice-warrior/): “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” ― Buckminster Fuller Social Justice Warriors “Anger is useful to help clarify our differences, but in the long run, strength that is bred by anger alone is a blind force which cannot create the future. It can only demolish the past. Such strength does not focus upon what lies ahead, but upon what lies behind, upon what created it—hatred. And hatred is a death wish for the hated, not a life wish for anything else.” –Audre Lorde Rather […]
- [Breakdown is an Opportunity](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/breakdown-is-an-opportunity/): “We are addicted to the noise of things falling apart.” – Mark Nepo We must marshal our best thinking, talent, and energy to imagine the institutions of the future; nothing less than the continued progress of the human race is at stake….We have a tremendous opportunity to reimagine the kind of society we want to live in and bring it into being….grasp the moment that is already presented to us, so that we might lead each other toward a better, more humane, more progressive world….Having the collective determination and strength of mind to steer it where we want. Instead of […]
- [Pros and Cons of Community Living](https://icmatch.org/how-to-start-a-commune/pros-and-cons-of-community-living/): Pros and cons of community living depend on the particular needs and preferences of community seekers. In general, challenges are similar to those that families, churches, and civic organizations find difficult. Communication and fairness are consistent needs. It is often inconvenient to engage in joint decision making, and new norms need to be learned. For communities who manage to stay together, benefits include better physical health and sense of connection, support with child-raising, friendship, personal growth, cost saving, shared resources, and a social safety net for members. Challenges of Community Living Low Staying Power of Common-struggle Communities Communities often have […]
- [Small-scale Farming and Ranching](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/small-farms-and-ranches/small-scale-farming-and-ranching/): Promotion of small-scale farming and ranching is not what you’d expect to hear from a Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School: Ultimately, small will save us—that is, if we commit ourselves to it. We can only hope to transform our current fossil-fuel-based economy into a more sustainable system if we move collectively to small, sustainable, local energy sources (p. 259). We need to build more sustainable, local food production and distribution—a change that is already happening with the significant increase in farmers’ markets and the rise of the local food […]
- [Ecovillages](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/join-or-start-an-ecovillage/ecovillages/): “Moving to more local ways of approaching industry, commerce, agriculture, and government offers a future full of possibility—a bright future, one fully within our grasp (p. 260)….We need the End of Big to bring us back to our communities, to our neighbors—that’s how we’ll remake the world and build a better future” (Mele, 2013, p. 266). photo by Anna Shvets As a quiet response to the growing crisis, there is an uptick in the movement toward intentional communities. There’s a surge of interest in hobby farms. Put those interests together, with any amount of effort toward sustainability, and you have […]
- [Co-create Transformational Events Blending Work and Play](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/co-create-transformational-events-blending-work-and-play/): The work that needs to be done to save many species from the current rapid extinction, and possibly the human race among them, seems overwhelming. If continued only by the dedicated protestors and political lobbyists, it can never scale. Most people are convinced that we have serious problems, but they feel powerless and too busy surviving, just making ends meet. Our attention is fragmented, and people mostly numb out or seek diversions in their time off. There seems to be no way to muster the political will in sufficient numbers. By the time we become motivated by desperation, it will […]
- [Fake Community: What Community is Not](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/conflict-management-in-intentional-communities/fake-community-what-community-is-not/): Community is Not a Place When you hear in the news a reference to “the community of Las Vegas” you know the word has been grossly misused. Even the Oxford definition of “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common” shouldn’t be stretched to a city of over 640,000 residents, with location being the only characteristic they necessarily have in common. The second Oxford definition is: “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” Community is Not Tribal Conformity Community shouldn’t mean a group […]
- [Who's leading the intentional community movement?](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/whos-leading-the-coliving-community-movement/): For people and organizations that have been working (some for decades) to foster workable residential intentional communities, see these pages: There’s another surprising hero in this movement. It’s you. This movement is part of what Joanna Macy refers to as the great turning. We might like to continue in the middle class world that has privileged us, allowing us travel, leisure, and comfort. Yet can we in good conscience prefer that, knowing what this privilege extracts from others, current and future, in our own nations and globally? Can we prefer to continue business as usual, knowing that the longer we […]
- [Definitions of Coliving and Intentional Community](https://icmatch.org/building-intentional-communities/definitions-of-coliving-and-intentional-community/): Every field of study has some jargon or specific word meanings. These definitions can give you some clarity about terms related to but not quite the same as residential intentional community. This page also helps clarify who this site seeks to serve. Intentional Community Means Residential and Purposeful Intentional community (IC), to people within this movement, is defined broadly as people having a common purpose for living with or near each other. This can include intense involvement such as income-sharing communes that have daily meals together. On the other extreme, co-housing apartments or co-owned land could allow for much less […]
- [References](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/references/): This page lists the references used for a collection of writings titled Intentional Communities as Culture Change Agents. A Sustainable Mind. (2016, April 26). 018: Building community through urban farming With Greg Peterson [Audio podcast episode]. https://asustainablemind.com/018-building-community-through-urban-farming-with-greg-peterson/ Aguirre, F. (2011). Child abduction after the collapse. http://ferfal.blogspot.com/2011/08/child-abduction-after-collapse.html Aguirre, F. (2014a). Gun control: Defensive gun use (Part II). https://ferfal.blogspot.com/2014/10/gun-control-defensive-gun-use-part-ii.html Aguirre, F. (2014b). Rural crime keeps getting worse: What do criminals look for? http://ferfal.blogspot.com/2014/11/rural-crime-keeps-getting-worse-what-do.html Amorelli, L., Gibson, D., & Gilbertson, T. (Eds). (2021). Hoodwinked in the hothouse: Resist false solutions to climate change. https://climatefalsesolutions.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/HOODWINKED_ThirdEdition_On-Screen_version.pdf Anna Maria. (2019, January 3). [Comment on the post […]
- [Civilization’s Discontents and Cultural Evolution](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/civilizations-discontents-and-cultural-evolution/): Our current economy based on competition works most effectively in a context of scarcity, which is enhanced when we distrust each other and look to the market to meet all needs. While the globalized market may have brought abundance to many, it has also created great wealth inequality and ecological crisis. To many current thinkers, finding a way forward includes re-creating community on a local level. The intentional community movement is a crucial part of this cultural evolution. Political Revolution Versus Cultural Evolution “Culture changes when a small group of people find a better way to live, and the rest […]
- [Community Types](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/): Residential Intentional Communities as Alternative Housing Solutions The community types linked below are intended to point you to the best resources for joining or creating successful ICs of the type you’re interested in. You’ll find multiple resources for setting up time-tested frameworks for effective cooperation. Some of these types of residential intentional communities share an indoor or outdoor space for recreational or work resources, but they don’t necessarily share living or work space on a consistent basis. Something that all intentional communities have in common is that they have an agreed-on decision-making process and some shared values. In the following […]
- [Guidelines: The Mission of Your Intentional Community](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/the-mission-of-your-intentional-community/): During this process, let your core values and vision statement be a continual guide. As described in the template for these documents, the core values tell why, the vision statement tells what you want to bring about in the future, and the mission statement should tell who, how, and where. In an analogy to architecture, an initial sketch depicts the view as it would be to the human eye. That is like the vision. The mission is like the “plan drawing” or blueprint, which is based on exact measurements and location details. When writing the mission of your intentional community, […]
- [Guidelines: A Vision for Your Intentional Community](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/a-vision-for-your-intentional-community/): Visioning can be a fun and energizing process. It’s a creative process that doesn’t necessarily have an established sequence. If your group is small, consider taking a retreat or a camping trip together to ensure you have one focus and a lot of together-time to mull over ideas, even as you’re working on simple activities such as meal preparation, or while exploring the area. The following steps are suggestions for how you might discuss your vision for intentional community. It would be helpful to get a friend to facilitate the meeting, so that the group coordinator can fully participate in […]
- [Guide to Creating Your Vision and Mission Statements](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/guide-to-creating-your-vision-and-mission-statements/): This page is intended as step-by-step help for a group coordinator who has a group of three to eight members that seem ready to discuss plans to create a future intentional community together. Creating your vision and mission statements together not only ensures your goals are aligned, it can also increase your commitment. Overview of Founders’ Guiding Documents Your founders team needs to have agreement on core values, vision, and mission. Simply sharing the fun and the financial benefits of intentional community isn’t going to get you thru the challenging times. Similarities related to your values are likely what drew […]
- [Team Up: Roles of Your Core Founders Group](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/governance-of-intentional-community/roles-of-your-core-founders-group/): You could call this a leadership group, but some may not prefer that. This page is about defining and assigning the roles of your core founders group. These can be rotating or fixed, but you are advised to agree on assignments. If a certain job is everyone’s role, then it’s no ones. The best way to keep the workload equitable is to have periodic accountability discussions about it. This doesn’t need to be framed as scrutinizing each other’s work, because just as importantly, you’re coordinating group efforts. Naming the Roles of Your Core Founders Group As you begin interacting with […]
- [Landlord/tenant agreement vs. Intentional Community](https://icmatch.org/contracts/landlord-tenant-agreement-vs-intentional-community/): Some people feel that intentional community should be a place where there is so much trust and good will that there is no need to make a contract. Surely we can work things out as we go? But this lack of clarity is risky for both sides. An intentional community that offers rental space can have a clear landlord/tenant agreement and still be a place where people are respected and treated with compassion. Let’s dig into this thorny issue. Best Intentions But Too Much Uncertainty I’ve been in touch with a landowner past retirement age who owns a piece of […]
- [The Benevolent Dictator](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/governance-of-intentional-community/benevolent-dictator/): photo by Janaya Dasiuk For those drawn to intentional communities, the ideal often involves egalitarian governance and shared ownership. However, the reality is that not everyone has the same financial resources or access to credit. This creates a need for flexible structures that can accommodate a diverse range of members. Balancing Equity and Practicality in Ownership & Governance Some cooperative communities offer graduated levels of buy-in, where increased financial contribution leads to a greater say in decision-making. Options like work-contribution contracts or rent-to-own agreements can also pave the way to co-ownership for those without immediate wealth. Sometimes, individuals might have […]
- [Number of Members in Your Founders' Group](https://icmatch.org/team-up/number-of-members-in-your-founders-group/): In response to the question “what is the ideal number of members in your founders’ group,” we love this response from Sky Blue Consults (published with permission): I think 5 people is minimum. If you can’t reconcile your vision for a community with at least 4 other people, you might have hard time creating something that’s going to be appealing to more than that. I also think that in terms of both the social dynamics and simply the time and energy needed, 5 is the minimum to really get going. But I think Yana is right too. Three could be […]
- [Personality Types and IC Team Member Roles](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/guidelines-cohesion-building/personality-types-and-ic-team-member-roles/): Temperament types are generalizations that often won’t hold true, because most people have a balance rather than tending to the extreme of a trait. Yet see what fits for you. The following descriptions are based on the Big 5 personality traits, as well as the MBTI. They’re presented in the order of the Big 5 OCEAN acronym: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Before reading the following paragraphs, you will get more out of it if you take the tests for the Big 5 and MBTI to see what applies to you. Scores from both measures can be recorded in […]
- [Founder's Message](https://icmatch.org/founders-message/): It takes a lot of dedication to work toward creating a residential intentional community.  Sometimes it seems thankless when others don’t see how it is part of working toward a more just and equitable world. I hope ICmatch gives you some valuable resources and helps you identify others who share your vision. I’m told people want a founder’s message to know something about the motivations and background behind it. I grew up in a tight-knit rural community where people shared a faith tradition and looked after each other, so community has always been part of my life. With seven siblings […]
- [Needs of the Intentional Community Movement](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/unmet-needs-of-the-intentional-community-movement/): We have permission from the Next Big Step to share a list from the collective wisdom of intentional community founders and advocates. It’s part of an ongoing discussion that at least 10 long-term members of the movement are involved in, about opportunities to foster the creation and well-being of residential intentional communities. This is not from an authoritative body, but an egalitarian discussion across communities of how ICs can progress toward a joint vision. Considering how the variety of online platforms for intentional communities can serve to help coordinate the movement’s needs, one question from the ongoing discussion log is […]
- [Ethnic Culture-focused IC](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/bipoc-culture-focused/): CooperativeLivingCommunities is set up to support the creation of residential intentional communities of diverse sizes, missions, and values. Most people interested in intentional community believe that diversity can be a strength, by bringing multiple perspectives and capacities together. However, some people in demographics that have been at times marginalized by the larger society understandably feel that the place they call home is most welcoming when filled with people who share their lived experience and subculture. It is illegal to make race and ethnicity a barrier to housing rental or purchase. However, forming a group and then finding housing together is acceptable. […]
- [Funders and Fixes](https://icmatch.org/funders-and-fixes/): A few people have told us “put up a donate button and people will give.” It seems everyone involved in prosocial projects would be operating on a shoestring budget, as we are, but maybe they’re right. Here’s our attempt to allow you to give, in a way that (a) acknowledges your contribution and (b) gives you a choice about what you want to fund. Here’s our list of what we want to put funds toward next. It might take months or years to accomplish if it has to wait for funding priority from us. If you fund a project, we […]
- [What is an intentional community?](https://icmatch.org/building-intentional-communities/what-is-an-intentional-community-definition/): The following is a definition by Sky Blue, who was introduced early on to intentional communities by parents who had met in one. Sky lived in seven different ICs over the last 27 years. They were formerly Executive Director and are currently on the Board of the Foundation for Intentional Community. The following is quoted with permission from a presentation: While it can be easiest to think of an intentional community as a place, at their core, intentional communities are about relationships of sharing. People sharing space, sharing resources, sharing purpose, sharing lives….Intentional communities come in all shapes and sizes. […]
- [Platforms for Residential Intentional Community](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/platforms-for-in-person-intentional-community-2/): The following icons identify functions of the listed platforms. The functions are listed in order of which are most well-developed for the site. Residential Intentional Community Listings Foundation for Intentional Community Global Ecovillage Network CohoUS See also Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada & Canadian Cohousing Network Federation of Egalitarian Communities Regional IC or IC-related networks in North America: These are organizations creating networks. Some have online databases. Some offer online video gatherings. Intentional Community Current Founders Listings ICmatch.org Re:Build Revillager.com The Village Collaborative Foundation for Intentional Community: See details in the first section; the FIC also lists communities in forming […]
- [Guidelines: Conflict Management in Intentional Communities](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/conflict-management-in-intentional-communities/): In general, western culture has not provided optimal learning for dealing with conflict openly and directly. Many people think it is normal and acceptable to take the easy way out: talking behind people’s backs and getting an authority involved without first checking our assumptions. Group members may need a lot of encouragement to do things differently, and especially they need to see leaders or core team members demonstrate this behavior. This motivates members to try out an unfamiliar process when it comes time for conflict management in intentional communities. Conflict Management For some, it might seem intuitive and easy to […]
- [Guidelines for Intentional Community Agreements](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/): These guidelines for intentional community agreements are to help groups in the forming phase especially. Writing your agreements can help your founding members get on the same page. It also can help potential new members to understand whether your vision and decisions will be workable for them. If they are going to join in and make substantial contributions, they will want to either help make the decisions or know about the decisions that have already been made. The agreement guidelines and templates have been refined by qualified consultants. They’re mouldable into whatever a group of founders feel like is, for […]
- [Guidelines: Diversity and Inclusion](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/membership-selection-process/diversity-and-inclusion/): photo by Josh Appel This page covers some difficult topics about groups that have often been marginalized. ICmatch is set up to support the creation of intentional communities of diverse sizes, missions, and values. At the same time that we value diversity and inclusion, we realize that not everyone is ready for a level of inclusiveness that ICmatch most wants to support. We believe it’s important to help people be open and honest about their preferences and needs around diversity and inclusion. This can give communities a better chance to match up well and last longer. This page can be […]
- [Guidelines: Meals, Food Production, and Health](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/meals-food-production-and-health/): This page is more in the form of a template, but also contains some guidelines. Meals Shared meals: If your group will have frequent shared meals, it’s important to ensure that there is honest discussion up front about accepted foods, rather than frustration later. Food commitments: Organic: Plant-based or not: Some need to eat animal products because of severe allergies to many other proteins. If you’re curious why this issue could be a dealbreaker for some people, here’s one easy read: https://faunalytics.org/vegans-with-non-vegan-partners-a-unique-dynamic/ Here are some options for how to describe your group’s decisions about foods to include: Food Production One […]
- [Guidelines: Regular Work Assignments](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/regular-work-assignments/): Leisure and Lifestyle To see if your founding group has agreement about this topic, you may want to include it in discussions early on. Alternatively, you may choose to table the discussion until you have a full membership that can agree together how much of a priority group activities and individual leisure opportunities will be. Role Assignments Decide whether your group will have rotating roles or long-term assignments based on training for a specific skill set. If rotating, how often do they rotate? Unofficial roles: There are also unofficial roles we take on during meetings or group projects: the superhero […]
- [Guidelines: Resource Sharing Agreements](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/resource-sharing-agreements/): Socioeconomic inequality is often related to possessions or access to the experiences the possessions afford. Is it okay if some have expensive vehicles and recreational equipment that are not shared with the group? Will members be asked to keep items in a personal paid storage unit instead of on group property if it’s not to be shared with the group and doesn’t fit into the personal storage spaces assigned to members? Group-owned Possessions Imagine the savings you’ll have by splitting the cost of many items that most people only use once or twice per week, possibly use once per year, […]
- [Guidelines: General Use of Common Spaces](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/general-use-of-common-spaces/): Some groups want to approach the topic of general use of common spaces in an unstructured, high-trust, low-bureaucratic way. Others have highly organized approaches to the general use of common spaces. People drawn to intentional community tend to be anti-establishment and have a bit of a grudge about following rules. Many groups start out with confidence that everyone’s good intentions and deep introspective work will lead them to naturally approach each difficulty with curiosity and compassion. Unfortunately, many well-intentioned groups split up. After Diana Leafe Christian’s decades of work promoting and studying forming-phase intentional communities, she stated in Building a […]
- [Guidelines: One-paragraph Description](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/one-paragraph-description/): This guide is intended to help you write a short one-paragraph description, an overview of your residential intentional community. This would be your “elevator pitch” mostly used for marketing purposes. For example, the Team Up page where you can post a group description allows 100 words. A condensed IC description will help outsiders quickly understand the overall community type and mission for a quick evaluation of whether or not they should look more closely at how they may or may not be a good fit. Below are suggestions for the type of content we hope you will include in your […]
- [Guidelines: Cohesion-building (Getting Along)](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/guidelines-cohesion-building/): What is your plan to keep getting along with each other? Waiting for cohesion-building to happen naturally might not work out. Understanding Personality Although most groups will welcome a wide variety of personalities and the different skills and role preferences that come with them, yet these differences can create a sense of distance. Understanding other’s strengths can foster appreciation and help with role assignments that allow each to shine. A small remotely located group may find that outgoing types don’t find enuf social stimulation in the community. On the contrary, groups that regularly host events may find that extreme introverts […]
- [Guidelines: Membership Selection Process](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/membership-selection-process/): Tasks for Potential Members To create your task list for member qualifications, you could delete those that don’t apply to your group, and add any requirements that make sense for your group. Notice that tasks are different from milestones, the next section. Invited to sign legal partnership or buy-in agreements or contract Milestones for Potential Members Note that unlike tasks, milestones don’t depend on the potential member’s effort. Membership committee agrees potential member meets requirements for membership Invited to stay for 3 months as a trial period Decision about the next step will be made by whom and in what […]
- [Guidelines: Benefits and Accountability for Work Contributions](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/benefits-and-accountability-for-work-contributions/): Roles and Responsibilities For many people, the approach to roles and responsibilities seems obvious and intuitive. It might not be until you meet others with a different cultural background or experiences that you realize there isn’t one right way for all people. It’s important to make sure your group members don’t have wrong assumptions of others’ general attitude toward roles and responsibilities. The following statements can be agreed to at the same time without feeling that the statements contradict each other. These statements are from the profile questions, and are mostly helpful to determine whether someone has extreme views. Getting […]
- [Guidelines: Financial Agreements for IC Founders](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/financial-agreements-for-ic-founders/): This page can be used as a checklist for financial agreements for IC founders, to prompt discussion and ensure you don’t skip over essential topics. It can also be used as a template. You can copy, paste, then delete whatever options you are sure you don’t want, retaining the options that are up for group discussion. Financial Risk Tolerance While your group or household may value generosity, most also have a need to limit sharing to enable them to have a reserve for times of unexpected loss. Making clear financial agreements for IC founders can keep your group from developing […]
- [Guidelines: Governance of Intentional Community](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/governance-of-intentional-community/): Creating a thriving intentional community requires careful consideration of how decisions are made and who participates. This is the essence of governance. It’s not enough to have good intentions. A strong, fair, and lasting community is built on clear, agreed-upon processes that account for human nature’s complexities. Instead of starting from scratch, learning from the successes and challenges of other communities can significantly increase your chances of long-term stability and harmony. What steps will your founding group take first to define your governance? Understanding Governance Processes The way you make decisions can vary greatly depending on their importance. Crucial, long-lasting […]
- [Intentional Community Elders](https://icmatch.org/resources-for-intentional-communities/intentional-community-elders/): This list is limited to people over age 50, not only to honor those intentional community elders who have spent several decades (if not a lifetime) of focus on ICs, but because fortunately there are so many great young upstarts that a full list of who’s who would be far too long for our modern attention spans.   Diana Leafe Christian Diana gives a 13-minute video overview of what it takes to create a successful lasting intentional community and a 45-minute presentation on how ecovillages benefit the wider culture. Notes from a talk on resolving the three types of conflict […]
- [Conflict Sources in Intentional Communities](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/conflict-sources-in-intentional-communities/): Structural Conflict and Interpersonal Conflict Diane Leafe Christian is a longtime researcher about and consultant to intentional community and author of Creating a Life Together and Finding Community. She identifies three types of conflict in intentional communities: structural, interpersonal, and “especially challenging behaviors.” You can read more about this in her ongoing article series for Communities magazine. She’s also currently writing a book about effectively managing conflict in intentional communities.  Diana (who asked that her first name be used instead of the academic convention of last name) notes that when consultants are hired by ICs to resolve conflict, they most often address the “proximate […]
- [Importance of Boundaries and Kindness Together](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/conflict-management-in-intentional-communities/importance-of-boundaries-in-community/): In the Prohibitions section, the preface to one question sums up the importance of boundaries and the importance of inclusion: Some of these issues are safety concerns for minors and other vulnerable people. It is important to set clear boundaries, and we encourage you to do so respectfully.…It is important for people to feel safe in their home and community. Some communitarians, rather than distancing themselves from anyone with behaviors that mainstream society tends to stigmatize, welcome or tolerate some degree of potentially challenging behaviors. Boundaries Versus Inclusiveness As adults, it’s up to us as individuals to decide what (a) […]
- [Senior Cohousing](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/senior-cohousing/): Community Cohousing for Seniors One survey participant complained about their search in a directory listing senior cohousing: “Thus far, I have not found any established community with house purchase costs under $300k. I had no idea ‘intentional community for seniors’ meant wealthy only!” Many consider baby boomers to be generally well off, without realizing that there have been serious and disproportionate erosions in the market-investment 401K savings of some who believed they were making cautious and normal decisions about their retirement funds. Due to legal (but now questionable) financial practices that are described as the Retirement Gamble, many elderly see […]
- [Member Registration Steps](https://icmatch.org/members/member-registration/member-registration-steps/): Here’s how the registration and login process goes. If you get interrupted or confuzzled during the registration and login process, this could help you figure out what’s next or communicate better with the help personnel about where you’re stuck. If a video tutorial is easier to track, here are two options. 1. Find registration form. In the menu, find the page called Match for Free! On that page, there’s a purple bar near the top (as pictured below). Click or tap where it says “Click here to register.” This will bring you to the brief member registration form. 2. Read […]
- [How to Create an ICmatch Group](https://icmatch.org/team-up/create-an-icmatch-group-profile/): Follow these steps to create an ICmatch group profile that will show up on the Team Up page. 1. Meet the completion criteria for your member profile. Your individual member profile page (when logged into My Account) needs to show 100% in the circle chart (which moves to the end of page when you’ve completed). To get 100% you need to answer the first popup matching questions, post a memoji or photo, and answer a few more questions. At the top of the Match for Free page is an orange button that links to a page that describes in detail how […]
- [Legal and Fair With Housing](https://icmatch.org/contracts/stay-legal-and-fair-with-housing/): You can stay legal and fair with housing while creating or finding like-minded community. The FIC directory does a great job listing intentional communities that are established and open to new members. Because they advertise housing, they have to be careful to comply with Fair Housing Law. ICmatch is intended to provide a service that isn’t what the FIC listings are ideally set up for. ICmatch is to help new founders groups form. It’s important that ICmatch profiles don’t advertise housing, because some of the profile information is protected by fair housing law. Say you’re a family that wants to […]
- [Vision and Mission of ICmatch](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/vision-and-mission/): Vision Statement Our vision is pulling for the residential intentional community movement and re-villaging movements. We see a future of local resilience and mutually supportive in-person relationships, where both unity and diversity can be maintained. This allows for individual and group choices to be negotiated at many levels below the one-size-fits all national level of mandates. In other words, we believe grassroots efforts to meet social and practical needs locally is often more effective than demanding large-scale government solutions. Mission Statement The ICmatch website supports this vision by fostering the success of new founders groups planning startup intentional communities. One […]
- [How to Join the Consultant List](https://icmatch.org/community-consultants/how-to-join-consultant-list/): ICmatch provides a searchable consultant list to help forming or established intentional communities find the professional help they need. Maintaining your listing as a consultant is free. We focus on specializations relevant to founders or forming-stage communities. We need to ensure that your services are a good fit for the site. The initial registration is short and simple. If you fill that out, you’ll hear from us soon about your listing. Here’s how the consultant registration and login process should go. After you’re vetted, you should hear from us that you’re good to go, or we might ask for more […]
- [Community organizing trainers](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/activist-communities-communes/community-organizing-trainers/): ICmatch community organizing trainers can help a variety of intentional community types: What is community organizing? The following organizing can also help an IC to strategize about a neighborhood-wide network of sharing economy projects. A community organizing trainer: Here is one seasoned Canadian consultant among others listed. Community organizer funding strategies Organizing is often in the service of disadvantaged groups who are unable to fund their efforts thru dues or donations. They rarely receive funding from government since their activities often seek to contest government policies. Grantors more often fund service activities and shy away from groups with contentious approaches […]
- [Group Facilitator](https://icmatch.org/community-consultants/consultant-services/group-facilitator/): Group facilitation is a generalist role. Often facilitators are called to help with a decision-making process or to moderate discussions at an event. Group facilitators need a varied skillset. Their job includes monitoring time, group process, emotions, and behaviors. Needs for extensive and specific group work might be better met by consultants with specific skillsets, such as mediators to help with conflict resolution. The following list describes how a group facilitator can benefit your group discussion. These descriptions can also be used to help a group that is using its own members as facilitators. Value of External Facilitators While it […]
- [Marketing Services](https://icmatch.org/community-consultants/consultant-services/marketing-services/): You HATE marketing and sales? You’re likely one of those people who would rather get a tooth pulled than try to sell others on your offerings. It feels uncomfortably pushy. You’d rather be in the sharing economy, the gift economy, barter, anything but trying to convince uninterested people that you have something they need and should pay for. Marketing services can feel like a package of intrusiveness and slight dishonesty, or more kindly said, intentional bias. Not your thing. But the people who really would love and gladly pay for your service, lodging, or product, how will they find you? […]
- [Consultant Services](https://icmatch.org/community-consultants/consultant-services/): Our list of independent consultants represents a wide variety of skills needed by residential intentional communities. While the DIY ethic is admirable, there’s a lot to be said for getting some expert guidance to jumpstart your project. Many founders’ groups hire a consultant to teach them skills that they can gain proficiency at, then utilize themselves. The following are some of the most in-demand consultant services. Independent IC consultants: On this page, ICmatch lists affiliated independent consultants for each of the categories below, as well as linking to other general IC consultant directories. Getting Along as a Group Online workshops, […]
- [House Agreements](https://icmatch.org/guidelines-for-intentional-community-agreements/general-use-of-common-spaces/house-agreements/): House agreements make an important contribution in a coliving situation to help housemates maintain good relationships and negotiate fair division of chores. This page presents one of several topics that intentional communities or coliving housemates need to sort out, ideally before moving in together. The lists are presented as statements that have worked for others, which you might copy and paste into your own house agreements. House and Yard Care Cleaning and Maintenance Laundry Room Hot Tub Parking Heating and Cooling  Electric System Limitations Fire Safety Social-emotional Care Noise Community and Guests Open Communications Make a Positive Difference If or […]
- [Disaster Relief Temporary Shelter as a Prepaid Service](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/self-sufficient-and-sustainable-community/disaster-relief-temporary-shelter-as-a-prepaid-service/): Small farms or ecovillages may play an important role in emergency preparedness and should be able to profit from this potential. The emergency timeshare contract is one way to potentially bring in funds at the present time for a service that will be provided at an unknown time in the future. That future service is to house people who have experienced a natural disaster that has made their current housing uninhabitable, and which likely would have reduced or eliminated the supply of available short term rentals in the area. Including disaster relief temporary shelter as a function of an intentional […]
- [Legal Structures for Intentional Communities](https://icmatch.org/contracts/legal-structures-for-intentional-communities/): This page provide basic information on legal structures for intentional communities. Our listed legal consultants may be able to help determine which forms could be workable for your location and goals. Founders often want to ensure that future generations will preserve the original intentions and values. Careful choice of legal structure can help carry the original vision forward. From an unaffiliated organization, templates by the Sustainable Economies Law Center give a head start in legal documents for a wide variety of organization types, including co-ops and co-owned LLCs. A Utah-based estate lawyer has reviewed the following information for accuracy. Keep […]
- [Van-dwelling Co-travelers](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/van-dwelling-co-travelers/): Life on the road can be wonderful. The freedom, perspective, and intake of the world around you is unmatched. But you also crave connections with people who understand van life. You can begin to find or create van life community here! 4 Reasons to find or start a van-dwelling co-travelers group Examples GroundShare Co-op: Starting at $5000, zero interest loans are available with a down payment on winter and/or summer locations. Parking “nook” is private, with access to shared community garden patches, kitchen, bathroom, living room, shower, and workout room. Van Life Campgrounds: A U.S. network of community oriented campgrounds […]
- [Off-grid Homestead Settlement](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/off-grid-homestead-settlement/): Live in an Off-grid Homestead Interested to start a survivalist community or find off-grid homestead settlements looking for members? Many people want access to an off-grid community to live in or to retreat to in a time of disaster. Going off-grid doesn’t mean you have to give up everything modern. With solar energy and Starlink, you could remain connected to communication and online work opportunities in even the most remote locations. 4 Ways to make a living in a remote off-grid homestead settlement photo by Andrea Piacquadio Examples Riverbed Ranch is an off-grid community offering affordable land and water rights […]
- [Tiny House Community](https://icmatch.org/community-types-2/start-tiny-house-community/): Why do we need so much space, and so much stuff? A tiny house does away with the excess, giving you just enough space to live, while the majority of your time can be spent outside of the home and in your community. With housing affordability in crisis, and people yearning for connection, perhaps it is time to build a tiny house community! Read on and connect below to learn how to start a tiny house community of your own. How to Start a Tiny House Community Examples Tiny house directory has over 300 communities listed with prices and international […]

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