JetStream FCU Turns CDFI Funding Into Lifelines After Hurricane Maria
A pair of CDFI grants allowed the Florida-based credit union to help members restart their lives on the island or relocate to the United States.
Impact/Purpose
Our Purpose page is your central resource to explore strategies that elevate products and services from run-of-the-mill commodities to powerful tools that support members and communities and set credit unions apart from competitors.
Top Impact/Purpose Articles
Wright-Patt Turns Purpose Into Property For First-Time Homebuyers
The Ohio credit union’s Sunshine Community Fund is backing new homes in Dayton, combining financial support, education, and cross-team collaboration to empower first-time buyers.
First Alliance Debuts Mission-Driven Deposits
The Minnesota-based cooperative invites high-dollar depositors to turn private prosperity into shared possibility through a savings product designed around social impact.
KPIs Kick Good Will Into High Gear
September 2, 2024
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From Knoxville to Nome, credit unions are attaching hard numbers to community impact and taking their philanthropy further than ever before.
A Blueprint To Build Better Volunteers
September 2, 2024
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A three-year-old program at 3Rivers Federal Credit Union prepares team members to participate on local boards and committees.
A Guide To Measuring Credit Union Impact
September 2, 2024
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Credit unions build stronger communities every day. It’s time to share those success stories with the world.
Exit Interview: Hank Hubbard, One Detroit Credit Union
September 2, 2024
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The veteran leader and Motor City hype man looks back on a career centered on living the “people helping people” philosophy.
A New Way to Measure Impact
September 1, 2024
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To better fulfil its mission, Blue FCU has adopted a different method of measuring success that more closely examines members’ financial health.
A Path To Prosperity And Financial Wellness
August 26, 2024
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Some credit unions offer loans for trade schools and vocational programs that provide well-paying jobs without a four-year college degree.
Can Donor-Advised Funds Make Your Philanthropy Go Further?
July 21, 2024
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Although the industry is chock-full of foundations, some institutions rely on donor-advised funds as a pathway to giving back.
Fortera Fights Against Generational Poverty
July 21, 2024
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The Fortera Foundation is breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing essential resources and financial aid to single-parent students.
United Nations FCU’s Lessons From Global Philanthropy
July 21, 2024
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The United Nations FCU Foundation helps the New York-based credit union make an impact on multiple continents.
Understanding NCUA’s 2023 Grant Funding
July 15, 2024
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The regulator’s Community Development Revolving Loan Fund distributed $3.8 million in grant funding last year, benefitting more than 140 credit unions.
KPIs Kick Good Will Into High Gear
From Knoxville to Nome, credit unions are attaching hard numbers to community impact and taking their philanthropy further than ever before.
A Blueprint To Build Better Volunteers
A three-year-old program at 3Rivers Federal Credit Union prepares team members to participate on local boards and committees.
A Guide To Measuring Credit Union Impact
Credit unions build stronger communities every day. It’s time to share those success stories with the world.
Exit Interview: Hank Hubbard, One Detroit Credit Union
The veteran leader and Motor City hype man looks back on a career centered on living the “people helping people” philosophy.
A New Way to Measure Impact
To better fulfil its mission, Blue FCU has adopted a different method of measuring success that more closely examines members’ financial health.
A Path To Prosperity And Financial Wellness
Some credit unions offer loans for trade schools and vocational programs that provide well-paying jobs without a four-year college degree.
Can Donor-Advised Funds Make Your Philanthropy Go Further?
Although the industry is chock-full of foundations, some institutions rely on donor-advised funds as a pathway to giving back.
Fortera Fights Against Generational Poverty
The Fortera Foundation is breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing essential resources and financial aid to single-parent students.
United Nations FCU’s Lessons From Global Philanthropy
The United Nations FCU Foundation helps the New York-based credit union make an impact on multiple continents.
Understanding NCUA’s 2023 Grant Funding
The regulator’s Community Development Revolving Loan Fund distributed $3.8 million in grant funding last year, benefitting more than 140 credit unions.
Browse Topics
Why Financial Empowerment Matters More Than Financial Literacy
Savana Morie
Alltru FCU stopped treating education as the end goal. Now, financial empowerment guides product design, access, and risk decisions.
42% Of U.S. Households Experience Financial Hardship
Tony Waltrich
More than 50 million U.S. households earn less than the minimum average income needed to cover basic costs of living.
Excite Foundation Breaks Down Barriers For Children’s Savings
Savana Morie
Automatic enrollment and community partnerships help the credit union foundation expand access to early savings for underserved families.
Consumers Are Financing The Future Any Way They Can
Aaron Passman
Recent studies show credit card debt and Buy Now, Pay Later usage continue to rise. Bigger increases could be around the corner.
Credit Human Redefines ‘Green’ In The Heart Of Texas
Savana Morie
The credit union completed a three acre headquarters campus in 2021 that offers 52% more space while consuming a fraction of the resources. It’s a model of how cooperatives can lead on sustainability without sacrificing performance.
CDFIs By The Numbers
Omar Shalabi
CDFI credit unions might be fewer in number, but their impact reaches millions of members, and their footprint highlights how targeted mission can translate into broad, measurable reach.
Serving The Underserved Without Accepting Preventable Fraud Losses
Callahan & Associates
Preventable fraud losses quietly erode credit union margins. The difference between a 25% and 6% loss rate isn’t risk. It’s execution.
Inside An In-School Model That Links Classrooms With College And Careers
Savana Morie
Holy Rosary Credit Union has embedded itself into a local high school’s career and technical education program, offering scholarships, internships, and courses eligible for college credit.
6 Credit Union Executive Priorities For 2026
Jay Johnson
Credit union leaders want to know where peers are placing their focus. These six priorities reflect how leadership teams are responding to change with intention and clarity.
What’s Next For Credit Union Earnings?
Omar Shalabi
As margin support begins to fade, earnings performance is becoming more sensitive to revenue mix and harder to interpret through public reporting alone.