Credit Union Foundation Leaders Convene to Share Best Practices and Amplify Community Impact

Posted by Ben Shuey on February 9, 2021

2/9/2021

Last month, leaders from credit unions across the country gathered during Foundations Assemble, a two-day virtual event designed to foster networking and learning.

The event, launched by Amanda Stevens, TwinStar Community Foundation’s Development Manager, provided attendees with an opportunity to share best practices and hear from leaders across the credit union industry on the work of their foundations.

“I knew other credit unions were doing amazing work through their foundations and thought it would be great to have a connection,” Stevens said. “We’re all going through the same process.”

Guest speakers addressed a variety of key topics, including defining the mission of a credit union foundation, how to partner with leagues and associations, successful fundraising, and leading strong grant programs. Northwest Credit Union Foundation’s Executive Director, Sharee Adkins, was part of the expert panel lineup, speaking on best practices around foundation governance.

“We had some really great speakers and most of them were from the credit union world,” Stevens said. “Having the opportunity to network and talk to people who are doing the same thing was extremely valuable.”

The Northwest Credit Union Foundation serves as a partner to credit unions, helping them expand and deepen their community impact by providing valuable resources and expertise. Focusing on economic empowerment, asset building, and cooperative development, NWCUF’s mission is aligned with the Credit Union Movement’s — to improve the financial health of individuals and communities throughout the Northwest.

The Foundation is a convenor — it brings credit unions and philanthropic leaders together, providing them with a platform to network, identify needs within their communities, and create solutions that improve the financial lives of people in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

To build on Foundations Assemble’s momentum here in the Northwest, NWCUF will bring credit union foundation, community, and philanthropic leaders together on a quarterly basis, starting this month.

“These quarterly conversations will provide us with the opportunity to network, brainstorm, and help one another,” Adkins said. “When you get the right people together, great things can happen. We’re excited to see where these conversations lead.”

To participate in the first meeting, to be held Feb. 16, 10 a.m. PST, 11 a.m. MST, register here. Future meetings will be held at the same time on May 25, Aug. 24, and Nov. 18.

To learn more about the quarterly gatherings, please contact Sharee Adkins.

Posted in Community Impact.