Picture
​
CU FORWARD® represents credit unions of all sizes commitment to give back to their communities in a cooperative effort through promoting:
  • volunteering opportunities,
  • fundraising events, and
  • participating in community service projects.
As not for profit financial institutions, Minnesota’s credit unions work every day to improve their members financial lives. Service is a core element of the social mission of credit unions.

​Credit Unions Give Back Through the CU FORWARD Kindness Initiative

We're asking credit unions to share with us the unique ways in which support is being provided for those in our communities who might need it most during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acts of kindness can be large or small. Whether it’s buying and delivering lunch, putting together care packages, redecorating a branch with kindness sayings and warmth, or simply a social media post extending your thanks, we know credit unions are already committing to and planning community give back during this time. We’re hoping credit unions share with us your stories! Here’s how you can participate:
  • Tell us what you’re doing through the CU FORWARD act of kindness survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NJBNZMK
  • Take a short video or photos of the initiative.
  • Share them on social – use #CUFORWARD and tag @mncreditunions
  • If you don’t have  social media channels – email photos or videos to MnCUN Director of Communications Julia Miller with a short description and MnCUN will share.
Much like CU FORWARD Day, the Network will inspire ideas, help plan credit union involvement, provide examples, best practices and resources, organize social media, and share stories throughout the state. Specifically:
  • Communications – highlighting via the Pulse newsletter, sharing credit union stories via our social media channels, and creating short videos to inspire action.
  • Impact Collection – creating a survey to compile credit union actions and activities throughout this time.
  • Resource sharing – updating our CU FORWARD webpage with examples, ideas and resources. Facilitate and create connections for credit unions to collaborate on kindness activities together. 
Through the spirit of CU FORWARD, we hope to highlight all of the goodness credit unions are extending to members – exemplifying the cooperative principles and credit union’s commitments to their communities. We hope to share the credit union difference with the broader community beyond just our members through these efforts.
With questions, please contact Director of Engagement, Ben Hering, via email or phone at (612) 239-0026. 
Picture
The collaborative effort on CU FORWARD Day is a perfect example of credit unions fulfilling their ‘people helping people’ philosophy.” CU FORWARD Day – held annually on the second Monday is October is a Minnesota state-wide initiative of credit unions employees, members and partners coming together to volunteer with local organizations, give back to our communities, commit random acts of kindness and generally just say “thank you” to the people who deserve it most.
In 2019, Minnesota’s Credit Unions held their third annual CU FORWARD day on Monday, Oct. 14.  Across Minnesota, 4,000 volunteers from 58 Credit Unions and partners dedicated the day to community service projects and volunteer opportunities totaling over 20,000 hours.
Credit unions, as not-for-profit financial institutions give back profits to their members and the communities that they serve.

More credit unions nationwide are adopting the concept of dedicating one day to spread kindness in their communities:
  • The Illinois Credit Union League launched the CU Kind campaign, an initiative for credit unions in their state to spread kindness.
  • Credit unions in Mississippi, inspired by both CU Forward and CU Kind, are coming together to create impact in their state as well.

Watch for more information about CU FORWARD events including CU FORWARD Day Day 2020 - Monday, October 12, 2020. 

2019 Registered Credit Unions & Partners

​Accentra Credit Union |  Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union | Altra Federal Credit Union | Anoka Hennepin Credit Union | Associated Healthcare Credit Union | Baxter Credit Union | Brainerd BN |Case Financial | Centricity Credit Union |City & County Credit Union | Co-op Credit Union of Montevideo |  CU Recovery & the Loan Service Center | Dawson Co-Op Credit Union | Embarrass Vermillion Federal Credit Union | Financial One Credit Union | Firefly Credit Union | First Alliance Credit Union | Fiserv | Fulda Area Credit Union | Great River Federal Credit Union | HBI Employees Credit Union | Heartland Credit Union | Hiway Federal Credit Union | HomeTown Federal Credit Union | Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union | Members Cooperative Credit Union | Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union | Minnesota Department of Commerce | Minnesota Power Employees Credit Union | Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union | North Memorial Federal Credit Union | North Star Credit Union | Northern States Power - St. Paul Credit Union | NorthRidge Credit Union | Northwoods Credit Union | Novation Credit Union |  Red Wing Credit Union | Riverview Credit Union | Royal Credit Union | Richfield Bloomington Credit Union | South Metro Federal Credit Union | SouthPoint Financial Credit Union | SPIRE Credit Union |St. Cloud Financial Credit Union | St. Paul Federal Credit Union | Star Choice Credit Union | TopLine Federal Credit Union | Trustone Financial Federal Credit Union | TruLync | United Financial Making a Difference | Wakota Federal Credit Union | Wings Financial Credit Union | Wrong About Everything Podcast

In 2013, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union hosted their first organization-wide Plus It Forward Day.

Initially focused on Affinity Plus’ employees dedicating eight hours to volunteerism, the event has grown substantially – the 2016 Plus It Forward event included 25 participating credit unions resulting in more than 1,200 employees and members dedicating over 7,300 total volunteer hours to scatter kindness in their communities.
​
In a response to the growing cooperative nature of the event, the Minnesota Credit Union Network now coordinates credit union participation and media efforts going forward under the umbrella name CU Forward Day.

Questions? MnCUN Director of Engagement, Ben Hering by email or by phone at 651-288-5519.