Across Michigan, countless groups of volunteers are already doing the work of recovery support every day—hosting meetings, offering rides, connecting people to resources, checking in after overdoses, and showing up for neighbors in crisis. These grassroots efforts are the heart of Michigan’s recovery ecosystem.
Many of these groups ask the same question: “Are we ready to become a Recovery Community Organization?”
If you’re exploring that step, you’re not alone…and MARCO is here to help.
Formalizing as an RCO can open important doors: stable funding, stronger partnerships, increased visibility, and a recognized platform for advocacy. But before you file paperwork or seek funding, it’s helpful to understand what makes an RCO unique and what you should think through early.
What Makes an RCO an RCO?
Recovery Community Organizations are independent, non-clinical, nonprofit organizations that are led, governed, and staffed by people in recovery. They promote recovery through advocacy, education, and peer-based supports, prioritizing lived experience at every level.
RCOs are not programs embedded within treatment providers or government agencies. They are community-rooted organizations that authentically represent the voices of people in recovery and their families. If your group is already providing peer-led events, supports, or community education, you may already be functioning like an RCO.
Things to Think About When Forming an RCO
Are You Truly Peer-Led?
This is the most important question.
An RCO is governed by people with lived experience of recovery. That means at least 51% of the board—often more—are individuals with lived experience.
Peer leadership:
- Builds trust in the community
- Strengthens your organization’s identity
- Ensures your mission reflects real recovery needs
Leadership doesn’t have to be perfect from day one. It grows as your organization grows. What matters is that lived experience is centered from the start.
What is Your Mission and Identity?
Before you formalize, spend time thinking about your “why”:
- What recovery gaps exist in your community?
- What type of support do people most want—coaching, meetings, harm reduction, resource navigation, transportation, outreach?
- How will your organization honor multiple pathways and identities?
- What values will guide your work?
Many emerging groups hold listening sessions or community dialogues with people in recovery. This helps ensure your early direction reflects real needs—not assumptions.
What Does Your Organizational Structure Look Like?
Forming a nonprofit takes some planning, but you don’t need every system fully built to get started. Key early decisions include:
Nonprofit Status or Fiscal Sponsor
Most RCOs eventually become 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Some start under a fiscal sponsor—an established nonprofit that helps process funds while you grow.
Board Development
You’ll need a diverse, lived-experience-centered board that reflects your community.
Bylaws and Core Policies
These don’t need to be complex. Start with the basics: governance, mission, code of conduct, conflict of interest, volunteer expectations.
Volunteer Management
Your volunteers are your lifeblood. Build simple processes that keep people engaged and supported.
How Do I Fund My RCO?
Early funding usually comes from:
- Local grants
- Small donor campaigns
- Partnerships with health or social service organizations
- Community foundations
As you grow, you may become eligible for contracts with PIHPs, county governments, state agencies, or other philanthropic sources. You don’t need a full finance team right away, but you should understand what financial accountability looks like. Transparency and good recordkeeping early on will pay off later.
How Do I Track Data, Outcomes, and Continuous Improvement?
MARCO does not require standardized data collection for membership, but we do encourage shared learning and best practices around outcomes. At a basic level, emerging RCOs should think about how they will track:
- Attendance
- Types of services offered
- Simple demographic information
- Success stories and testimonials
This information isn’t just for funders, it helps you see your impact and adapt as needs change.
How Do I Build Community Partnerships?
Strong RCOs rarely operate in isolation. Consider early partnerships with:
- CMHSPs and behavioral health agencies
- Recovery residences
- Harm reduction organizations
- Treatment providers
- Faith-based groups
- Local coalitions
- Other RCOs
Collaboration boosts visibility, reduces duplication, and increases the consistency of recovery supports across your region. MARCO can help you get connected statewide.
How Do I Establish Recovery-Friendly Values and Culture?
RCOs thrive when everyone walking through the door feels welcomed, affirmed, and safe. Build your culture around:
- Trauma-informed practices
- Multiple pathways to recovery
- Cultural humility
- Peer workforce development
- Volunteer support (including burnout prevention)
Values aren’t just words in a document. They shape how your community experiences your organization.
What steps should I take First?
If you decide to take the next step, here’s what the path typically looks like:
- Clarify your mission, services, and leadership structure.
- Decide if you are ready to pursue your own 501(c)(3) non-profit status.
- Build your board and adopt core policies.
- Join MARCO as a member to access training, mentorship, and networking.
- Consider MARCO certification (standard, provisional, or ARCO-recognized).
- Continue building partnerships and demonstrating your community impact.
Every RCO’s journey looks different and that’s how it’s supposed to look!
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Many established RCOs in Michigan began exactly where you are now: a handful of volunteers, a mission, and a commitment to helping people find recovery. If you’re thinking about taking the next step toward becoming a formal RCO, MARCO is here to support you with tools, technical assistance, mentorship, and a statewide network of organizations ready to help.
Building an RCO isn’t about paperwork. It’s about building power, community voice, and long-term recovery support in places where it’s needed most. If you’d like to explore next steps or learn more about membership and certification, reach out. We’d love to walk with you on the journey.