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Each year, credit unions across Maine give back to their local communities in meaningful and creative ways. Credit union volunteers offer their time and assistance at food banks, animal shelters, walk-a-thons, Special Olympics Maine events, benefit fairs, fundraisers, and more. The People Helping People philosophy has long-been demonstrated through volunteerism efforts across the state, but 2023 was a record-breaking year.
Since 2018, the League has been tracking credit union volunteerism efforts through the CUs Share for ME form. Of the six years the form has been active, last year’s reports chronicled the most hours ever submitted. In 2023, credit unions reported 29,294.98 hours in volunteer time. According to the Independent Sector, these efforts are worth approximately $931,558.10 in donated time.
At the annual Ending Hunger Luncheon on February 13, the League recognized three credit unions by asset size who recorded the most volunteer time last year. Those credit unions are:
- Category 1 – Gardiner FCU with a total of 1,660.75 hours of donated time.
- Category 2 – New Dimensions FCU with a total of 1,994.75 hours of donated time.
- Category 3 – University CU with a total of 5,590.9 hours of donated time.
Additionally, the following credit unions reported more than 1,000 hours in volunteer time last year:
- Atlantic FCU
- Capital Area FCU
- Community CU
- Five County CU
- Maine Highlands FCU
- Midcoast FCU
- NorState FCU
- Northeast CU
The time given by credit unions to local organizations is just as important as money raised. If your credit union donated any time at all last year, thank you! Your efforts are valued and make an impact.
Why is submitting your hours important? Reporting your volunteerism helps the League communicate the collective efforts our credit unions make to enhance their communities—whether to the media, elected officials, or the public. As part of the League’s legislative advocacy strategy, we often share our outreach efforts with policymakers in Augusta and in Washington, DC.
How do you report your efforts? With the CUs Share for ME form, tracking your volunteerism has never been easier. With a few simple clicks, you can report your philanthropic efforts and help the League measure the collective impact our credit unions have within their communities.
How does the CUs Share for ME form work? Simply enter the name of your credit union, what month your staff volunteered, how many staff members volunteered, and how many hours were spent volunteering total for the month. After that, select the philanthropic effort(s) from the provided list and click “submit.” It’s that easy!
The League encourages every credit union to complete the CUs Share for ME form on a monthly basis to ensure your hours are logged for the full year. Please email Jake Holmes at jholmes@mainecul.org if you have any questions about the CUs Share for ME program.