Announcing Social Impact Awards

DakCU recognizes credit unions for contributions that made a significant impact in improving lives – and NetGiver steps up with a surprise announcement! 

Town & Country CU

​Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) is pleased to announce this year’s winners of the Social Impact Awards for contributions that have made a significant impact in building stronger communities and improving lives. The recipients were formally recognized during the DakCU Awards Banquet that was recently held at the Grand Falls Casino & Resort.
 
Credit unions nominated for this award must have consistently demonstrated qualities of compassion and service to either one organization or a variety of volunteer activities.  Congratulations to:
 
North Dakota State Credit Union Winner:
 
Town & Country CU, Minot, ND. This credit union actively engages in numerous community-driven initiatives, partnering with local organizations, schools, and nonprofits, sponsoring events, and participating in fundraisers; in 2023, they provided nearly $210,000 in funding. Town & Country also offers an Employee volunteer Time Away Program, allowing staff to volunteer during business hours. In 2023 alone, 56 staff members participated, providing more than 570 hours of volunteer time within their communities. 

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Voyage FCU

South Dakota State Credit Union Winner:  For the first time ever, the judges awarded a tie!
 
Bluestone FCU, Sioux Falls, SD (photo far above). To celebrate their 85th anniversary, this credit union held three initiatives running simultaneously in 2023: 85 Acts of Service; 85 Ways to Appreciate Employees, and Member Giveaways & Promotions. Through this initiative, 27 of the credit union’s staff provided more than 175 hours of volunteer service to 35 unique organizations, in addition to nearly 100 acts of service.  
 
Voyage FCU, Sioux Falls, SD. In 2023, Voyage FCU set a goal of reaching 200 hours of volunteer time, and ultimately exceeded that goal, with more than 240 hours provided by 33 employees. Through their Community Involvement Committee, the credit union organized opportunities for staff to be involved with local nonprofits; in addition, the credit union provided sponsorships and donations of approximately $31,200 to 47 different organizations.
 
The very nature of this award aligns perfectly with the values and mission of a growing CUSO, of which DakCU is part owner: NetGiver.
 
In a surprise announcement, Eric Berg, Co-Founder of NetGiver, announced the CUSO will be providing the winning credit unions with the “Employer Giving” feature of NetGiver, which empowers them to support their employees' giving with a branded NetGiver experience. It is worth mentioning that the combined value of the NetGiver gift to the winning credit unions amounts to $11,500!
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NetGiver directly connects employees to the 501(c)(3) organizations that they want to support, facilitating donations with no fees. This is a great way for employers to support employees in the causes they care about and provide donation-matching opportunities as a CSR benefit. Credit unions can also gain insight into the types of organizations their employees give to and can manage their own giving all from one dashboard.
 
If you are interested in learning more about NetGiver, please contact George McDonald, DakCU’s Chief Officer of Strategic Services.

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