Pandemic Relief Grants

A $65,000 Grant Pool is available the purpose of pandemic relief to support MnCUN affiliate members under $100M in assets. Credit unions may apply for funding to address a past, current or future expense - expenses that have been incurred after March 15th, 2020 will be considered. Applications will be accepted as funding permits or until December 1, 2020. A portion of the available funds were provided by a generous donation from Alloya Corporate Credit Union. 
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​Grant requests can be up to $2,500 and must be used to support expenses directly related to the pandemic including but not limited to:
  • Purchase of safety and personal protective equipment (masks, plexiglass, hand sanitizer, etc.)
  • Operational or technological expenses that support infrastructure or business continuity (Laptops or other tools for working from home)
  • New/upgraded tools or services that allow for limiting contact/exposure for employees or customers (Online banking, remote deposit, signature pads, etc.)
  • Long-term expenses that will be incurred by the credit union in adjusting to changes in staffing models, member service or health and safety. (Adjustments to branches, drive-throughs, etc.)
  • Remote/virtual services to serve members or provide financial education or counseling (webcams and virtual tellers, live chat to limit branch traffic)
  • Creating programs or services which target populations that are impacted by the crisis (low-income, at-risk or unbanked, etc. to prevent fraud, provide education, counseling, etc.)
Applications should include a description of the fund use, proof of expense or detailed proposed budget, and credit union CEO approval. 

Professional Development Grants

Funds opportunities for credit union professionals and volunteers to continue their education and training in order to sustain the credit union movement. Opportunities must apply to a current or future career with credit unions. Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year, and are reviewed for approval by the Foundation Board during its scheduled meetings. 

Small Credit Union Grants 

Credit unions that meet specific criteria can apply for expedited reimbursement of professional development opportunities through the Small Credit Union Grant Program. Expedited approval will be granted based on the following criteria:
  • The request is for $1,000 or less;
  • The credit union has less than $50 million in assets as of Dec. 31 of the previous calendar year;
  • The professional development opportunity is on a topic(s) that pertains to the attendee’s position as a credit union professional or volunteer
A maximum of $1,000/credit union is available through the Small Credit Union Grant Program on an annual basis. All small credit unions are encouraged to apply for this grant, as well as grants for larger dollar amounts under our general Professional Development Grant program which undergo regular review and approval through the Foundation Board during its scheduled meetings.

GAC Scholarships

The CUNA GAC Affairs conference is March 2-4, 2021
 
This scholarship was created to provide financial assistance to credit union staff and/or volunteers who are members of the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) and wish to participate in CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference. The Foundation has a $8,000 scholarship pool, and funds allocated to applicants may be used for the cost of the conference registration. The premier event for political impact in the credit union industry, will be an interactive virtual format for 2021. More information is available at https://www.cuna.org/gac/
 
Preference will be given to applicants who have not attended GAC, are from credit unions under $100 million in assets, and have shown engagement with MnCUN and credit union advocacy.
 
Application deadline: November 30, 2020
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​Financial Education Grants

MnCUF Financial Education Grants support credit unions’ implementation of financial education projects. Applications are evaluated by the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation Board of Directors and evaluated on factors such as credit union value, community impact, collaboration and creativity. The application period is open so that credit unions may now apply for funding at any time throughout the year.

Financial education initiatives may include projects in the following areas:
  • Community financial capability outreach programs
  • Financial education curriculum
  • Financial experiential learning programs – such as reality fairs, in-school branches, etc.

Grant guidelines and restrictions:
  • Funding must be deployed for the stated grant purpose within one year of receipt, unless recipient receives a written extension from the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation. Any funds unused in the completion of your project must be returned to the Foundation.
  • Minnesota credit unions may partner with non-credit union organizations for grant funding, so long as the project demonstrates a positive impact on a credit union’s community.
  • Grant recipients must mention the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation as having provided grant funding in all press releases, news stories, articles, interviews and website references.
  • Grants may not be used for salaries, pass-through funding, incentive payments, meals/refreshments, or promotional products (i.e.: imprinted trinkets, giveaways, etc.)
  • Repeated requests from previous grant recipients will be permitted, however, new project grant applicants will receive priority.

With questions, please contact the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation.

​CUDE Scholarship

A program of the National Credit Union Foundation, Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) Training brings renewed relevance to the philosophy of "People Helping People." This unique and transformative training provides critical lessons in cooperative principles, credit union philosophy, and development issues, while incorporating challenges credit unions face today.

Preference will be given to applicants have shown engagement with the credit union movement.

​Financial & Audit Professionals Grants

The Financial & Audit Professionals Grant Fund was established in 2014 through a generous contribution from Rich Gabrielson, a CPA who worked with Minnesota credit union supervisory committees, boards of directors and management throughout his 36-year career. Gabrielson retired from CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP at the end of 2013.
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This contribution provides up to $2,000 in annual grant funding for Minnesota credit union staff and volunteers who have financial and audit-related responsibilities to attend various educational events, conference and seminars. Eligible credit unions must be headquartered in the state of Minnesota, and individuals are only eligible to receive Financial & Audit Professionals Grant Fund dollars (maximum of $1,000) every four years. Grants will be available on an annual basis until the fund is exhausted.

Funding from the Financial & Audit Professionals Grant program is intended to cover or defray the costs for credit union professionals and/or volunteers to attend timely and accurate educational events, conferences and seminars on financial and audit-related topics. Reputable course providers include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Credit Union Conference,
  • the Association of Credit Union Internal Auditors (ACUIA),
  • National Association of Credit Union Supervisory & Audit Committees (NACUSAC),
  • Credit Union National Association,
  • the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN)
  • the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES)

The Financial & Audit Professionals Grant application period will be open mid Oct. to Nov. 30 each year, and grant recipients will be selected by the Foundation Board in December. Recipients will be notified within two weeks of the Foundation Board’s selection. Grant funds must be used by Dec. 31 of the following year, and recipients must submit proof of registration and the grant follow up form.

About the Donor

Rich Gabrielson worked with credit union supervisory committees, boards of directors and management for 36 years, up until his retirement from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP on Dec. 31, 2013. Rich’s career began in 1977 with Bowlby, Anfinson, Crandall & Haedt (BACH Ltd), and continued through subsequent business combinations and firm name changes under the firm names of Larson, Allen, Weishair & Co. (LAWCO), LarsonAllen, LLP, and CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP (CLA). He worked with most Minnesota credit unions at some point during his career, and with many other credit unions around the nation. Rich’s client focus from the late 1980s until his retirement was almost solely in the credit union market.  In addition to client service, a key focus of Rich’s involvement with the credit union marketplace was providing education to credit union supervisory committees, boards of directors and management (primarily CFOs, accounting managers, and internal auditors) in the surrounding states, as well as the national marketplace.

From Rich: “As I worked with credit unions in a very rewarding professional career for so many years, I would like to return an ongoing token of my appreciation of the working relationship we had. Based on my areas of interaction with credit unions over the years and my passion for providing timely and accurate educational guidance, I would like to provide monetary resources for credit union individuals to attend top-tier outside education related to financial and audit topics.”