PIF Membership Application

UPDATE: We are low on funding and are currently fundraising for the program. We will grant memberships via lottery based on available funding. Please contact marketing@peoples.coop for more information.

PIF applications are reviewed on a monthly basis, or whenever funds are available. Applications may take one month to process. Pay It Forward Memberships are free and are awarded by a lottery system based on funding we have available at the time. This means that recipients of free Pay It Forward memberships will be selected at random, and will be granted memberships when funds are available.

PIF memberships are equivalent to one $30 investment into a member share, which will activate your member benefits  for a full calendar year. In order to reach full equity at the Co-op, folks invest $180 over a long period of time. If you would like to reach full equity (member for life), you must reapply for PIF annually, or you may continue to invest in your share yourself if you find you have the funds to do so.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Anyone who is experiencing financial hardship can apply. This includes folks who already have a Co-op Membership but cannot afford to make their next share payment.

We encourage folks who use Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Oregon Health Plan, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), as well as those experiencing unemployment and students, to apply.

We do not check these credentials. This is an honor-based program. With increasing costs of food and living, we understand that many people are experiencing financial hardship and do not qualify for government assistance programs. We encourage anyone who receives a low income to apply.

Next Steps After You’ve Submitted Your Application

Due to the high volume of applicants, we will contact you if you’ve received funding. We are granting memberships on a monthly basis. The amount of memberships we can give out is based on demand and funding. Those who weren’t picked in the lottery will be rolled into the following month’s lottery.

If your Double Up Food Bucks account is tied to your Member-Number and you have not won the PIF lottery, please email cet@peoples.coop and we can fix your account so you can access your Double Up Food Bucks.

If you’d like to become a Member-Owner and not wait to win the PIF lottery, we can split up share payments in smaller increments. Email cet@peoples.coop for more information or stop by the Co-op and speak to a cashier about your options.