MINNEAPOLIS–NetGiver and CUSocialGood said they are joining together to “invigorate and revitalize the credit union impact story.”
The two organization said the partnership comes at the same time credit unions are “again under attack” by the American Bankers Association (ABA) and fighting to retain their not-for-profit status while simultaneously faced with potential increases in reporting requirements related to service to the underserved. CUSocialGood and NetGiver said they have been independently gathering data on the social and community impact of credit unions and their members, and now will combine their efforts and invaluable data under one umbrella.
CUSocialGood added it will unveil a new platform in 2022 with a “renewed dedication to advocacy for the unique value” of credit unions.
“Both of our organizations feel a deep sense of responsibility to serve our local communities and bring awareness to the benefits of credit unions,” said Dakota Credit Union Association President Jeff Olson. “With this partnership and NetGiverʼs approach to innovation, CUSocialGood will go beyond todayʼs blog site to become the education and advocacy platform weʼve always known it could be.”
‘Awed by the Impact’
CUSocialGood was started in 2013 by Dakota Credit Union Association as an advocacy tool in response to South Dakota bankersʼ attacks on the credit union tax exempt status. According to the organizations, under this new partnership, NetGiver, which is a charitable giving CUSO, “will harness the stories of CUSocialGood for reporting, and the creation of toolkits and resources for credit unions, nonprofits, leagues and advocacy bodies.”
“By combining credit union self-reporting with data gathered by NetGiver on credit union-supported member giving, the movement will have an even more complete story of the impact credit unions and their members make every single day, ” said Eric Berg, NetGiver president and CEO. “Weʼre awed by the impact that CUSocialGood has documented, and thrilled to bring this admirable project to new heights.”
According to CUSocialGood, to date in 2021 it has shared more than 1,000 stories amounting to nearly $38 million in cash donations to various charities and organizations, with another $5.9 million provided in scholarships, donations to hospitals, and tangible goods.