Iowa Credit Union Foundation Raises Over $70K for Financial Well-Being

DUBUQUE, IOWA (September 27, 2021) — In its 26th year, the Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF) serves as the hub for credit union philanthropy in Iowa. At this year’s annual ICUF Benefit Night Fundraiser, held Thursday, September 16 at the Grand River Conference Center in Dubuque, ICUF raised more than $70,000 in support of their work to empower people and communities to achieve financial well-being.

ICUF Benefit Night is held each year during the Iowa Credit Union Convention. Dollars raised support ICUF’s mission-based work across the state of Iowa. This year’s event was attended by nearly 300 credit union advocates from the credit union industry, as well as the business community.

“Thank you to those who attended Benefit Night and support the work of the Iowa Credit Union Foundation,” said Ann McMillian, Board Chair of ICUF. “As our Foundation considers future investments and growing its impact, fundraising efforts such as Benefit Night allow us to invest more into grants, programs and initiatives aimed at serving our mission and supporting credit union members in need.”

During the event, McMillian, ICUF’s Executive Director, Jaimie Miller and Board Vice-Chair Marian Holmes shared some of the foundation’s work from the past year and recognized its Community Impact Award recipient. The Community Impact Award is presented to an individual within the Iowa credit union movement who has demonstrated outstanding civic and charitable responsibility through volunteerism, advocacy and philanthropy in service toward community-based charitable causes. This year’s award winner was Mike Powers, CFO of Affiliates Management Company.

Highlights from the past year shared during the event included:

• ICUF’s involvement with the University of Northern Iowa’s “teach the teacher” financial education training program, which has now touched more than 5,000 Iowa students with accredited personal finance curriculum.

• A major study in partnership with Coopera to understand racial wealth gaps and equity issues for marginalized communities in Iowa.

• Continued support of credit union members through the Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarship program, which awarded $23,000 in scholarships; and

• The third year of ICUF’s People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program, which assists credit union employees in becoming member advocates who can help members navigate difficult financial situations. More than 100 coaches have graduated from the program in the past three years.

“ICUF’s mission is really to look at the wholistic health of Iowans and their financial well-being,” said Jaimie Miller, Executive Director, ICUF. “We are able to support Iowans through the generosity of our donors and sponsors, and we have been able to increase our impact each year. Thank you to all who continue to support and give to the mission of ICUF.”

About Iowa Credit Union Foundation

Founded in 1995 as the philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League, the Iowa Credit Union Foundation's (ICUF) primary focus is to eliminate poverty in the state of Iowa. ICUF seeks to carry out its mission to empower people and communities to achieve financial well-being through its various programs, grants and scholarships. For more information, visit www.IowaCreditUnionFoundation.org.