Imagine the Difference brings listeners to the intersection of credit unions and nonprofit organizations. We shine a spotlight on the mechanics behind, and mutual benefits of, this unique relationship. We help credit unions elevate their cause marketing for member engagement, and guide nonprofits in the formation of a successful credit union partnership.
What happens when a credit union partners with a nonprofit? In this episode, Sharlene Wells and Michael Andrews discuss their partnership and all the good they have done together in their respective communities. They dive deep into community giving, giveback days, and how you can engage with your community.
They also share why it's important for credit unions and nonprofits to work together.
Check out:
Mountain America Credit Union
Operation Warm
Guests:
Sharlene Wells - Mountain America CU, Senior Vice President of PR
LinkedIn(LINK)
Contact: sharlenewells@macu.com
Michael Andrews - Operation Warm, Sr. Partnership Manager (Western Region)
LinkedIn(LINK)
Contact: mandrews@operationwarm.org
3 Oct 2022
Growing a Tru Community
What happens when a credit union partners with a nonprofit? In this episode, Rachel Caballero and Christos Chronis discuss their partnership and all the good they have done together in their respective communities. They dive deep into scholarships, internships, partnerships and how you can engage with your community.
They also share why it's important for credit unions and nonprofits to work together.
Guests:
Rachel Caballero | Community Development Officer at TruWest Credit Union
- Contact: rncaballero@truwest.org
Christos Chronis | Chief Philanthropy officer at Mesa Community College (https://www.mesacc.edu/)
- Contact: christos.chronis@mesacc.edu
13 Apr 2022
Building Home Run Partnerships
What happens when a credit union partners with a nonprofit? In this episode, Tom Berquist and Amy Hoyte discuss their 15+ year partnership and all the good they have done together in their respective communities. They also share success stories and tell us why it's important for credit unions and nonprofits to work together.
Guests:
Tom Berquist | EVP/Chief Marketing Officer at BECU
Amy Hoyte | Executive Director at Rebuilding Together South Sound
Learn more about BECU at becu.org
Learn more about Rebuilding Together South Sound at rebuildingtogetherss.org
12 Jan 2022
Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes!
How many meals can you make with 2000 pounds of Potatoes? What can 64 credit unions do in one day when they work together? Listen as Benjamin Hering, and Julie Greene unpack CU Forward Day 2021. CU Forward Day is a day of giving that started with one credit union about a decade ago and quickly to dozens of credit unions across the state of Minnesota.
Guests:
Julie Greene | Volunteer Management Professional at Second Harvest Heartland., Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Benjamin Hering | Director of Engagement at Minnesota Credit Union Network., Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
15 Dec 2021
On A Mission To Thrive
What happens when credit unions strive to help local nonprofits? How can credit unions build healthy relationships with nonprofits? Brittani Richards and Dan Wolfert explore these questions during this Imagine the Difference podcast episode. They also tell stories about their successful partnership and provide some insight into the benefits of co-branding with nonprofits in their community.
Check out:
Thrive Credit Union (https://www.thrivecu.org/)
Hillcroft Services (https://www.hillcroft.org/)
Guests:
Brittani Richards | Vice President of Marketing & Branch Operations at Thrive Credit Union., Muncie, Indiana, United States
Dan Wolfert | Vice President, Development & Marketing at Hillcroft Services, Inc., Yorktown, Indiana, United States
1 Sept 2021
Planting Trees Today
How can credit unions grow roots in their communities? In this episode, Tara Wachendorf and Zach Wahls of GreenState Credit Union talk about GreenStates’s support of over 900 charities and contributing over $2.2 million to local charities in 2020. Additionally GreenState plants a new tree for every new credit union member with help from their nonprofit partner, Trees Forever. GreenState makes helping their community a priority, and in turn, GreenState has seen more members give.
Check out:
Greenstate.org
treesforever.secure.force.com
Guests:
Tara Wachendorf (Public Relations Director), GreenState Credit Union
Zach Wahls (Vice President), GreenState Credit Union
Learn more about NetGiver at netgiverapp.com (netgiverapp.com)
16 Jun 2021
Buy the Boots: Building Empathy in Onboarding
What happens when credit unions empower their team to live the “people helping people” philosophy from day one? How can nonprofit organizations grow through service partnerships with local businesses? In this episode, Pace Josey and Traci Herndon share valuable advice about weaving empathy into company culture. We discuss the long-term impact of personal connections on both nonprofit outreach efforts and credit union member relationships. Listen to find out how service learning and construction boots can change lives and build community.
Check out:
Montgomery Area Council on Aging
Guardian Connects
Guests:
Pace Josey | Marketing Manager, Guardian Credit Union, Montgomery, Alabama and owner of Trillion Threads (https://trillionthreads.com/)
Traci Herndon | Volunteer Coordinator, Montgomery Area Council on Aging, Montgomery, Alabama
26 May 2021
Supporting the Worst Tuba Player in the Band
This week, we dive into community impact at the hyperlocal level. Funding the budget shortfalls for school sports and clubs is a pain point for many parents and students, and a barrier to participation for others. How can a credit union and booster club partnership foster sustainable programs, eliminate the need for door-to-door sales, and ensure equitable access to activities? Learn about how My Credit Union in Bloomington, Minnesota is teaming up with community booster clubs to support students and build long-term self-sufficiency.
Check out:
My Credit Union
Guests:
Todd Barduson | Vice President of Marketing; My Credit Union; Bloomington, Minnesota
Melissa Riebel | School & Community Engagement Coordinator; Kennedy High School; Bloomington, Minnesota
12 May 2021
Maximize Impact on a Limited Budget
Tara Dimik, Chief Business Development Officer at Envista Credit Union, joins us this week to talk about maximizing community impact on any budget.
How can credit unions allocate current resources to benefit community partners? Tara talks about finding meaningful ways to support local nonprofits on a limited budget. She shares how the EnvistaCares Challenge helps nonprofits tell their story and how uniting around a cause magnifies the impact in their community.
Check out:
EnvistaCares
Guests:
Tara Dimik | Chief Business Development Officer, Envista Credit Union
5 May 2021
Stepping Up in Times of Need: Acting with Immediacy
This week, in the second of a two-part series, we examine how Blue Federal Credit Union in Cheyenne, Wyoming doubled their community impact in 2020… twice.
In October 2020, historic wildfires devastated communities across Colorado and Wyoming. The American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/) provided immediate aid to nearly 20,000 displaced residents in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Red Cross and Blue join us to talk about how their partnership brought critical relief in a rapidly developing emergency and how the credit union launched their second major matching campaign of 2020 in only five days.
Check out:
Red Cross apps
Blue Federal Credit Union’s “Blue It” commercial
Guests:
Paula Deegan | Regional Philanthropy Officer, American Red Cross;
Chandler Elmore | Community Engagement & Development Lead, Blue Federal Credit Union
28 Apr 2021
Stepping Up in Times of Need: Significant Crisis Compels Significant Response
This week, in the first of a two-part series, we examine how Blue Federal Credit Union in Cheyenne, Wyoming doubled their community impact in 2020… twice.
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country, many children in domestic violence situations lost their connection to critical support systems. Colorado’s Realities for Children (https://www.realitiesforchildren.com/) stepped in to provide emergency services to over 5000 local kids. Realities and Blue join us to talk about how their partnership benefited at-risk children and how the credit union turned $200K into more than $500K.
Check out:
Double Your Impact, Double Your Good (https://vimeo.com/472273639)
Realities for Children upcoming events (https://www.realitiesforchildren.com/events/)
Guests:
Mehgan Castor | Community Outreach Coordinator, Realities for Children;
Chandler Elmore | Community Engagement & Development Lead, Blue Federal Credit Union;
Melody Fenton | Public Relations Specialist, Blue Federal Credit Union
21 Apr 2021
Becoming a Go-Giver
What is the secret formula to effective leadership? This episode, we explore leadership and engagement with our guests from SPIRE Credit Union in Minnesota. Give Back is a core action for SPIRE, and in 2020 they met their communities’ needs in a significant way, with the help of their entire team, through their ‘Gives Big’ campaign.
Guests:
Dan Stoltz | CEO & President, SPIRE Credit Union; Abby Patterson | Giving Coordinator, SPIRE Credit Union; Eric Berg | President, NetGiver
12 Apr 2021
Preamble: At the Intersection of Credit Unions and Nonprofits
What is the Credit Union Difference? How is a credit union different from a bank? Hosts Noelle Bartlett and Patrick Martin have a short discussion with NetGiver co-founder and president, Eric Berg, about the unique history of credit unions, commitment to community, and the importance of nonprofit partnerships.
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