Enhance Your Career with Help from the DakCU Foundation

The Foundation has scholarships available for financial counseling certification programs and professional development. Apply now!

The Dakota Credit Union Foundation continues its commitment to developing the next generation of credit union leaders by offering grants and scholarships for professional development opportunities, including the Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP), Credit Union Development Education (CUDE) training, and DakCU's iLead@11 DakCU Emerging Leader Program.

Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP)
America's Credit Unions Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) provides credit union employees with the skills and knowledge needed to help members make informed financial decisions. Many Americans learn about personal finance through family and friends, or simply navigate it on their own. The need for trusted financial guidance remains significant, especially during times of economic uncertainty.

By having certified financial counselors on staff, credit unions are better equipped to:

• Help members experiencing financial difficulties.
• Demonstrate the credit union difference.
• Attract new members.
• Grow product and service revenue.

Credit Union Development Education (CUDE)
The Credit Union Development Education (DE) Program, offered through the National Credit Union Foundation, is an immersive, week-long training experience designed to strengthen leadership and advance financial well-being through the cooperative model.

Through collaborative group work, experiential learning, and interactive discussions, participants gain a deeper understanding of credit union philosophy and explore how cooperatives can create meaningful impact within their communities. Graduates leave with new perspectives, valuable professional connections, and practical tools to help advance the credit union mission.

As the Foundation continues investing in leadership development across the credit union movement, the DE program will expand opportunities for professionals to connect, collaborate, and lead with purpose. Applications for 2027 DE classes will open this fall, with additional opportunities for DE alumni to remain engaged through virtual gatherings, peer learning experiences, and ongoing community connection throughout the year. For more information on the DE program, please visit ncuf.coop/development-education/program. To be added to the notification list to receive DE updates directly to your inbox, please contact https://www.ncuf.coop/contact/. 

iLead@11 DakCU Emerging Leader Program
The iLead@11 DakCU Emerging Leader Program is a leadership development program designed specifically for emerging leaders in the credit union industry. Based on the popular Leadership@11 curriculum developed by Eleven Performance Group (EPG), this proven program helps credit unions strengthen and develop their leadership pipeline through three pillars of self-paced study:

• Session 1: Leading Yourself
  One can't effectively lead others without first understanding themselves.
• Session 2: Leading Others
  Poor leadership can cost organizations through lost productivity, turnover, and employee disengagement.
• Session 3: Leading the Organization
  ​Strong leadership allows credit unions to maximize the benefits of the cooperative model and capitalize on growth opportunities while serving members more effectively.

Apply for a Foundation Scholarship
If you are interested in applying for a Dakota Credit Union Foundation scholarship for FiCEP, CUDE, or iLead@11, please complete the Foundation Scholarship Application by following the instructions provided on the form.

Applications are reviewed and considered during the Foundation's monthly meetings. For questions regarding scholarship opportunities or eligibility, please contact DakCU's Annie Elhard or Lindsey Hefta.

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The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable arm of the U.S. credit union movement and works as a catalyst to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions. Through grants and programs, the Foundation is strengthening financial well-being, igniting passion and instilling knowledge about the credit union difference, and uniting resources to help credit union people during disaster. Donations to the Foundation ultimately enable credit unions to help their members reach life-changing goals and achieve financial freedom.