FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New member-only initiative provides small credit unions with specialized CDFI, lending and strategic planning support through CU Strategic Planning.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Small Credit Union Association (NSCUA) today announced the launch of the NSCUA Community Development Initiative, a new program created exclusively for NSCUA member credit unions to help them strengthen their capacity to serve their communities, pursue new funding opportunities and build sustainable long-term growth.
Developed specifically around the needs and realities of small credit unions, the initiative will connect participating NSCUA members with the expertise of CU Strategic Planning, a Callahan Company, for comprehensive support in pursuing Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Certification and a CDFI Fund Technical Assistance Award.
Participating NSCUA member credit unions will receive support with CDFI Certification and Technical Assistance Award applications, Lending Growth Blueprint consulting, strategic planning, a targeted lending campaign, CDFI 101 training and first-year certification reporting.
The initiative represents NSCUA’s continued effort to build meaningful, practical resources specifically for small credit unions and to use the collective strength of the association to bring opportunities to its members that can be difficult for smaller institutions to pursue independently.
“We built NSCUA around a very simple idea: small credit unions deserve resources and opportunities designed specifically for them,” said Joshua C. Urbick, President and CEO of NSCUA. “The Community Development Initiative puts that idea into action. Instead of our members trying to navigate an incredibly complex process on their own, we are bringing the expertise, strategy and support directly to them. This is more than another program. It is an example of what we believe an association should do for its members: identify an opportunity, remove barriers and help small credit unions turn that opportunity into something meaningful for the people and communities they serve.”
Small credit unions play an essential role in communities across the country, often serving members through deep local relationships and a firsthand understanding of community needs. Yet their size can make it difficult to dedicate staff time and resources to complex processes such as CDFI Certification, grant development and long-term strategic planning.
CDFI Certification recognizes financial institutions with a demonstrated mission of serving economically underserved people and communities. Certification can also open the door to CDFI Fund opportunities that can help institutions increase organizational capacity and expand community development lending.
“Everything we build at NSCUA starts with our members and the question of what will actually help them succeed,” said Mia Chernek, SVP and Chief Strategy Officer of NSCUA. “Our members already have the relationships, local knowledge and commitment to make an extraordinary impact in their communities. This initiative is about putting additional tools and expertise behind them. By creating something specifically for NSCUA members and specifically for small credit unions, we can help institutions pursue opportunities that may otherwise have been too complex or resource-intensive to take on alone.”
The initiative combines NSCUA’s focus on the needs of small credit unions with CU Strategic Planning’s experience in community development finance.
“Small credit unions have the community knowledge and relationships to make a meaningful difference, but their size can make it difficult to dedicate staff time and resources to a process as complex as CDFI Certification and grant development,” said Stacy Augustine, President of CU Strategic Planning. “Working with NSCUA gives us an opportunity to bring that support to more small credit unions while helping them connect their community development work with their long-term lending and strategic goals.”
Beyond certification and grant assistance, the NSCUA Community Development Initiative is designed to help participating members build the lending strategies, organizational capacity and long-term plans necessary to sustain and expand their community impact.
“Our goal isn’t simply to help a credit union complete an application,” Urbick added. “It is to help build stronger credit unions. When our members become stronger, their members, their communities and ultimately the entire credit union movement become stronger with them.”
About the National Small Credit Union Association
The National Small Credit Union Association (NSCUA) is a national trade association dedicated to supporting and strengthening small credit unions across the United States. NSCUA provides resources, strategic guidance, collaboration and a unified national voice to help small credit unions remain strong, independent and positioned to serve their members and communities for generations to come. www.NSCUA.org
About CU Strategic Planning
CU Strategic Planning, a Callahan Company, provides comprehensive consulting services exclusively for mission-focused credit unions, including strategic planning, CDFI certification, grant applications, in-depth lending and policy analysis, executive recruiting and more. With deep expertise in community development finance, the firm helps credit unions amplify their mission while maintaining strong financial performance.
For more information, visit www.custrategicplanning.com