December 2020
Small Credit Union Grant Recipients Announced
Congratulations to the recipients of the Iowa Credit Union Foundation's 2020 Small Credit Union Grants:

  • Town & Country Credit Union
  • Casebine Community Credit Union
  • North Western Employees Credit Union
  • The Hub-Co Credit Union
  • Gas & Electric Employees Credit Union
  • Allen Hospital Personnel Credit Union
  • Metco Credit Union
  • Muni-Employees Credit Union
  • Polk County Credit Union

This grant program provides Iowa credit unions $50 million in assets and below the opportunity to invest in new technology, consultation, education and COVID-19 related purchases. Thank you to Veridian Credit Union for making this grant program possible.
Encourage Credit Union Members to Apply for Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarships
2021 Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarship applications are open for Iowa credit union members who are high school seniors or post-secondary students. Encourage credit union members to learn more about this scholarship and apply!

The deadline to submit applications is February 5, 2021. Applications include a 500-word essay requirement and the application can be found here. Click here to find scholarship promotional resources in Spanish.

Scholarships are offered to high school seniors planning to enter college in 2021 and individuals entering or attending an accredited undergraduate, graduate or vocational program in 2021. This annual scholarship program honors the late Warren A. Morrow, founder of Coopera and a visionary in the credit union industry who dedicated his life and career to helping the underserved.
ICUF Executive Committee and New Board Members Elected
Donna Dyer-Bischoff and Alejandro Alaniz have been elected to serve on the ICUF Board of Directors. Donna is a Sales Market Manager, Credit Union System Relations at CUNA Mutual Group, and Alejandro is a Region Sales Manager for Collins Community Credit Union. Donna and Alejandro will join the board to serve three year terms.

The 2021 ICUF Executive Committee was also named:
  • Chair: Ann McMillian of I.H. Mississippi Valley Credit Union
  • Vice Chair: Marian Holmes of Community 1st Credit Union
  • Treasurer: Keith Mesch of Veridian Credit Union
  • Secretary: Jordan Hensley of Peoples Credit Union
Thank You, Former Board Chair Danielle Gratton!
Danielle Gratton, Chief Financial Officer at Dupaco Community Credit Union has concluded her term as the ICUF Board Chair. She will continue to serve on the ICUF Board of Directors in her third term.

Please join us in thanking Danielle for her dedication and service to ICUF!
ICUF Hosting Exclusive Virtual Event Featuring Edgar Villanueva, Author of Decolonizing Wealth
Please join the Iowa Credit Union Foundation, CUNA Mutual Group and the Iowa Council of Foundations for an exclusive virtual event with Edgar Villanueva, author of Decolonizing Wealth and globally recognized expert on social justice philanthropy.

This event will emphasize the importance of understanding the dynamics and impact of colonization in our country and explain ways we can begin the process of healing. Attending this discussion will help you understand how to make community investments as effective, powerful and equitable as they have the potential to be. The conversation will be moderated by Sharina Sallis, Community Relations Manager at CUNA Mutual Group. Participants will be able to ask questions and have an opportunity to discuss Villanueva’s remarks in small groups.

This free event will be held January 28, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The deadline to register is January 26 at noon.
Giving Tuesday Campaign Raises Nearly $1,000
On December 1, ICUF participated in Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to doing good and supporting community organizations. Nearly $1,000 was raised for ICUF on Giving Tuesday - thank you to all who donated in support of ICUF's mission! These gifts will allow ICUF to invest in critical programs and champion the credit union philosophy of "people helping people".

If you were unable to donate on Giving Tuesday but would like to support the Foundation, click here.
Credit Unions Can Support ICUF Through Dues Renewal Process
Included in the 2021 Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) annual dues solicitations was a letter asking credit unions to consider a charitable gift to ICUF. These donations support the Foundation’s overall mission based initiatives that address critical needs of Iowans.

Please consider supporting ICUF this year by designating a gift to ICUF in your ICUL dues notice. We are so grateful for the commitment from Iowa credit unions toward our collective mission!

Thank you to these credit unions for making a donation to ICUF in their league dues notice:
  • 1st Gateway Credit Union
  • 5 Star Community Credit Union
  • Advantage Credit Union
  • Affinity Credit Union
  • Allen Hospital Personnel Credit Union
  • Alliant Credit Union
  • Ascentra Credit Union
  • Casebine Community Credit Union
  • Cedar Falls Community Credit Union
  • CENT Credit Union
  • Citizens Community Credit Union
  • Collins Community Credit Union
  • Community 1st Credit Union
  • Community Choice Credit Union
  • Des Moines Metro Credit Union
  • DuPont Employees Credit Union
  • DuTrac Community Credit Union
  • Employees Credit Union
  • Financial Plus Credit Union
  • First Class Community Credit Union
  • First Federal Credit Union
  • Fort Dodge Family Credit Union
  • IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union
  • Industrial Employees Credit Union
  • Iowa Heartland Credit Union
  • Lennox Employees Credit Union
  • Linn Area Credit Union
  • Members Community Credit Union
  • MEMBERS1st Community Credit Union
  • Meridian Credit Union
  • Metco Credit Union
  • Midland Credit Union
  • Midwest Community Credit Union
  • N.W. Iowa Credit Union
  • North Iowa Community Credit Union
  • North Star Community Credit Union
  • North Western Employees Credit Union
  • Peoples Credit Union
  • Quaker Oats Credit Union
  • River Community Credit Union
  • The Family Credit Union
  • The Hub-Co Credit Union
  • Town and Country Credit Union
  • United Credit Union
If you are not representing a credit union, or would like to give a personal donation, click here.
Featured Community Impact Stories
Thank you to our donors!
Thank you to our recent donors, who made contributions to support ICUF's mission-based initiatives!
  • Alanna Davison
  • Alejandro Alaniz
  • Ashley Vanderheiden
  • Debby Pruismann
  • Jaimie Miller
  • Jenny Lorenz
  • Jim Anderson
  • Jovi Herrick
  • Miriam de Dios Woodward
  • Natalie Mahoney
  • Omar Jordan
  • Paula O' Rourke
  • PJ Wubbena
  • Traci Stiles
  • Víctor Corro
Donations Made in Honor of Dale Owen
  • 1st Gateway Credit Union
  • Amy Kepler
  • Angela Drury
  • Cassidy Peterson
  • GreenState Credit Union
  • PolicyWorks Iowa
  • Rebecca Neades
Donations Made to the DuTrac Donor Advised Fund
  • DuTrac Credit Union
  • Susan Prell
For questions regarding any information in the newsletter, please contact Jaimie Miller at 515.221.3001.
ICUF was established in 1995. Our mission is to empower people and communities to achieve financial well-being by championing the credit union philosophy of "people helping people."