Organizational Principles

1.  Voluntary and open membership

Anyone may choose to join the CCS.

2.  Legal

Community Currency Systems conform to national, regional and local laws. Community Currency Systems operate only within the bounds of existing national law.

3.  Complementary

Community Currency Systems are parallel currency systems, in which the community currency functions in complement to the national currency.  CCS are not alternative currency systems.

4.  Democratic member control and participation

Each member has the right to vote and participate in the CCS.

5.  Equal ownership of shares

Each member has only one share, no matter their investment or position.

6.  Autonomous

Community Currency Systems are autonomous systems, and may choose to join interlocal trading networks of their own free will. Autonomy and independence from politics and religion.

7.  Cooperation among cooperatives (inter-local cooperation)

8.  Concern for community well-being

Focus not only on members but on the whole community.

9.  Personal ownership of money

Ownership and responsibility of money rests with the person who issues it. Community currency is the property of the person who issues it.  They decide to withdraw it, and they back it with their willingness to receive it at any time.

10.  Collective Responsibility

Members with balances that are too high, or too low, may be noted publicly so that the others may help them spend their balance down, or earn their balance up.

11.  Community-based focus

CCS is focused only on the locality or community in which it operates, as defined by the members of that system.

12.  Not-for-Profit

Profits are used to improve the system and community. Community Currency Systems are not-for-profit organizations, in the same way as Credit Unions.  Any income generated pays for internal costs, provides for adequate savings in case of emergency, and for the people who manage it.

13.  Open and Transparent Operation

Each member may know the balance of another member, and the summary of system information. Operations are open for viewing by all members, and monthly summary information is publicly displayed. Any member may know the turnover and balance and trading activity of any other member, at any time.  This is so that each individual is personally and collectively responsible for the proper function of the system.

14.  System of Accounts

All accounts are kept in individual and system ledgers.  Individual Account Ledgers and the System Ledger must be maintained at least on a bi-monthly basis. The administration of a CCS does not and will not issue any currency into the system.

Economic Principles

1.  Mutual Credit

Community Currency is always issued as credit through accounts, and not handed out to members when they join (unless this act is recorded in the accounts).  The system's Debit and Credit balances are always even and the system is always balanced at zero.  The administration of a CCS does not and will not issue any currency into the system.

2.  Interest-Free

Community Currency is always issued interest-free.  However, there may be a usage fee applied only to positive accounts (ie. those that have money rather than those who don't).

3.  Sufficient in Supply

The contradiction between the function of National Currency as a standard of value and unit of exchange means that the supply of national currency is not sufficient.  Community Currency Systems seek to rectify this by providing a sound method for issuing a sufficient supply of money into the economy.  A sufficient supply is determined by the member, within limits set by the community.

4.  Non-Inflationary

As national currency, created through borrowing by central banks, is a debt-based money, the money supply is constantly expanding.  Community currencies represent the actual social and material capital in the community and thus are non-inflationary.

5.  Community-Based

Community-Currency systems are based on community, and thus the currency is limited to the community, as defined by the community.  They may also be geographically limited to a particular local area.

Social Principles

1.  Asset-Based

Community Currency Systems give members the opportunity to identify community assets and capabilities, as well as needs for developing those assets and fulfilling capabilities, with an aim to 'satisficing' (Herman Daly, Steady-State Economics), to sufficiently satisfy basic needs and simple wants.

2.  Access to education, training and information

CCS members are encouraged to educate themselves. The best way to help people, is to help them to help themselves.  CCS promotes self-education, self-reliance and self discipline.

3.  Social Reciprocation, Mutual Aid and Inter-dependence

We help ourselves by helping each other. Community Currencies Foster Social Reciprocation.  By stating what one is offering or requesting, assets and needs can better be identified and mobilized for community benefit.

4.  Self-Reliance and self-development

We are the main actor in our improvement. Community Currencies Foster Local Self Reliance.  By focusing solely on local economic and social activities, the intention of Community Currency Systems is to foster Self-Reliance, while recognizing inter-dependence among individuals and communities. 

5.  Enrich Culture and Society

Community Currency Systems aim to meet human and community needs in a way that is loyal, simple, playful with the purpose of enriching each of its members socially, culturally and spiritually, not just materially.

6.  Respect the Environment

Community Currency Systems respecting the ecological riches and diversity of the local region.  They do not support unsustainable use of resources and instead work to increase natural capital.

7.  Independent & Autonomous

Community Currency Systems are independent systems and will be vigilant against being dominated by any political parties, churches or sects. 

8. Promote Diversity

As systems that are not dominated by one group, they respect the diversity of the whole community.

9.  Facilitate Social and Economic Reassessment

Creates the space and opportunity for individuals and the community as a whole to re assess the values of the goods and services available in that community.  Through this process, traditionally undervalued activities, such as the work of women, may gain greater significance and respect

10.  Dealing with National Economic Crises

Community Currency Systems endeavor to provide the foundation in which local communities can weather economic crises caused by external factors (global booms and busts) through mutual support..

11.  Meeting human needs and well-being

By focusing on basic needs and abilities of people in a community area, Well-Being is enhanced as a result.

12.  Eco-logical

Everything may be considered inside the scope of the CCS, expressed through the voices of each member of the system.

13.  Equality between men and women

Men and women share equal burdens in the system.

14.  Economic and social empowerment of members

Members are encouraged to educate themselves to improve their economic and social well-being.

15.  For the Benefit of all members and the community as a whole

The goal is for all members to benefit.