D.C. LCA — Patron Classes

Nine pathways into the cooperative

Each class has its own patronage definition — the specific unit of qualified activity that triggers dividend allocation. Patronage conversion rates are set annually by the trust board on a marginal-contribution methodology.

Class 1 — Individual / Household

Consumer

Apply — Consumer Class

Patronage Definition

$-volume of qualified Coop-IC-earning purchases made through cooperative infrastructure

Dividend Mechanics

Patronage units accrue per dollar of qualifying spend. Annual dividend pool allocation is proportional to each member's unit total as a share of class-aggregate units.

Who Qualifies

Individual consumers who enroll via participating retailer or brand POS. Enrollment is free; qualification requires at least one qualifying purchase per fiscal year.

How Coop-IC Is Earned

At POS validation via the cooperative clearinghouse rails. Coop-IC is posted to consumer balance within settlement cycle.

Note: The largest class by head count, smallest by per-member patronage unit value. Strong aggregate volume drives total class dividend pool.

Class 1 of 9

Investor-Member Units

A separate category — founding round only

Investor-member units are distinct from patron-class membership. They are available in the LCA founding round only and carry a capped return per the Subchapter T capital-subordination principle — investor returns are subordinate to patron-class patronage dividends. This structure preserves the cooperative-purity narrative while enabling institutional capital participation.