Wisconsin Credit Union Foundation, Inc. Grants and Scholarships Program

The Wisconsin Credit Union Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”) awards grants and scholarships in three areas:

REAL Solutions® Initiatives

The Foundation will award grants to Wisconsin credit unions that have signed a letter of commitment to the REAL Solutions initiative. REAL Solutions is a statewide initiative to help real Wisconsinites build financially strong, self-supporting families and communities by offering innovative services and programs that: offer affordable alternatives to high-cost financial products and services; reduce dependency on predatory financial providers; increase financial literacy; improve personal financial management; encourage saving and wealth-building; build creditworthiness; provide an avenue to personal financial stability; and otherwise improve the financial and economic well-being of Wisconsin communities.

Grant Eligibility and Guidelines. Annual Application Deadline - July 1. Notification by July 31.

Applications must be postmarked by the last day of each grant cycle to be considered for funding during that cycle.  Applications received after the last day of each cycle will be held for consideration in the next grant cycle.

2012 grant winners:

• Blackhawk Community Credit Union in Janesville, which is purchasing iPads to help implement web-based financial curricula within the two high schools that house its in-school credit union branches. As part of its effort, the credit union will train its student tellers as Financial Literacy Student Ambassadors. They will serve as role models and leaders providing peer-to-peer financial literacy education. The credit union estimates it can reach as many as 540 students with education that emphasizes saving and wealth building, improving creditworthiness and budgeting.
  
  

• Park City Credit Union in Merrill, which is offering a Credit Rebuilder Program to help members and non-members improve their creditworthiness and improve budgeting skills to make consistent loan payments. The grant will help fund advertising as well as promotional and educational materials needed to offer the program, as well as training for two employees to become certified credit counselors (for a total of four at the credit union). Enrollees in the program will pay down a secured loan with regular payments reported to the credit bureaus to improve credit scores. Participants will have access to online support materials and spend at least one hour with certified staff to create a budget.

2011 grant winners:

• Superior Choice Credit Union partnered with debt counselors at a local nonprofit agency to enroll 53 members in their Great Debt Pay Down program - similar to a savings challenge-in which enrollees are encouraged to become debt-free and savings-rich. Participants' average credit score is 685 with $23,508 in average outstanding debt. So far, they've offered participants seminars on basic budgeting and identity theft.

• A webpage and blog are being developed. A grand prize is being offered to the participant with the most improved financial position. The credit union was honored by a local nonprofit agency for its financial advocacy.

• La Crosse Area Postal CU used workshops, brochures, phone calls and other means to educate members on debit cards and debit card fraud, internet banking, mortgages and insurance. The credit union also deployed a youth survey and plan to launch a young adult newsletter with information specifically for them. The funding is also helping the credit union provide financial information through its website, Facebook, an improved newsletter and a postcard series.

• Star Credit Union’s "Stock Market Club," which educated teenagers from low socio-economic neighborhoods about investing in the stock market and mutual funds.

• Blackhawk Community Credit Union’s "Student Saver Club," which educated high school students on the importance of saving.

Professional Development Scholarship

The Foundation supports the professional development and continued education of credit union staff and volunteers. Two scholarships will be awarded; one to CUNA Management School and the other for the National Credit Union Foundation’s Development Education Program.  Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of need, the impact of the program on the credit union and the applicant’s involvement in and commitment to the credit union movement.

• NCUF's Development Education Program. Attendees who earn certification as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) learn to improve the lives of members and communities by applying credit union philosophy in situations demanding unique approaches to problem solving. Whether you’re new to the movement or a seasoned professional, the DE program has something for everyone. For young professionals it can be the eye-opening experience that leads to a decision to commit to a career with credit unions. 

• Scholarship Recipients:
  2012: Chelsie Zima, St. Mary's & Affiliates Credit Union
  2011: Dan Winters, Co-Operative Credit Union
  2010: Carl Mundth, Badger Campus Credit Union

• CUNA Management School.  An intensive management program that helps attendees learn and implement principles that make them a more dynamic and effective manager and leader. 
   
  
  CUNA Management School Scholarship Eligibility and Guidelines
  
  
  Annual Application Deadline - April 30.   Apply today for CUNA Management School.  Notification by May 15.
  
  
  Scholarship Recipients: 
  2012: Dawn Johnson, VP of Operations/Compliance, Riverwood-Maritime Credit Union
  Nicole Christensen, Compliance Officer/Accounting Coordinator, Racine Municipal Employees Credit Union
  2011: Carl Mundth, President, Badger Campus Credit Union
  2010: Todd Scholz, President & CEO, Enterprise Credit Union 
               

• Young Professional Development Scholarship Program.  The Foundation supports the professional development and continued education of credit union young professionals. To that end, the Foundation is pleased to provide a scholarship for a credit union system program of the applicant’s choice based on the guidelines listed below. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of need, the impact of the program on the credit union and the applicant’s involvement in and commitment to the credit union movement.
  Annual Application Deadline - October 31. Notification by November 15.
  
  Scholarship Recipient: 
  2012: Joshua Roberts, Enterprise Credit Union

Disaster Relief

Grants will be considered from time to time for emergency relief to provide temporary support for credit unions that have experienced natural disasters. Grants are available at a time of need to assist credit unions, their members and communities following a catastrophic event.

Relief Efforts Assisted

2012:

• Hurricane Sandy
• Colorado Fires

2011:

• Southern United States Tornado Relief
• Tornado Relief, Joplin, Missouri
• Flood Relief, North Dakota
• Hurricane Irene Relief Effort