Apply for Grants

Cornerstone credit unions of any asset size in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, and credit unions of asset sizes above $100M in Kansas and Missouri may apply for one Professional Development Grant annually. 

Credit unions below $100M in Kansas and Missouri: please see the opportunity below for Professional Development Scholarships.

Deadlines

The Professional Development Grant application will open Nov. 30, 2023.

What's Covered

Grant applications may be submitted for the following Professional Development options:

Training Calendar for CU Staff and Volunteers

• Certifications: Credit Union Development Educator Program (CUDE), FiCEP Program (CCUFC), etc.  
• Conferences, seminars, workshops, webinars, and roundtables that are offered through Cornerstone or industry-related organizations, and the training must be beneficial to credit union development

What's Not Covered

Please carefully review the full Cornerstone Grants and Scholarships guidelines for details. 

The Southwest CUNA Management School (SCMS) scholarships and the application process are separate from the Professional Development Grant or Scholarships (see below). All Cornerstone credit unions are eligible for SCMS Scholarships and Community Development Grants regardless of other grants or scholarships received.

Staff and volunteers from credit unions with less than $100M in assets in Kansas and Missouri may apply for Professional Development Scholarships. 

Scholarship applications may be submitted for the following professional development options:

Training and Education for CU Staff and Volunteers

• Certifications: Credit Union Development Educator Program (CUDE), FiCEP Program (CCUFC), etc.  
• Conferences, seminars, workshops, webinars, and roundtables that are offered through Cornerstone or industry-related organizations, and the training must be beneficial to credit union development

Process

The application must be submitted to the Cornerstone Foundation a minimum of 30 days before the training or educational program you wish to attend. You must submit one form per individual at the credit union.

Cornerstone Foundation staff will review applications as they are received and may approve or deny requests based on policy set forth by the Cornerstone Grants Committee. Funding is awarded based on demonstrated need and dollars available. Partial scholarships may be awarded.

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What's Covered

Scholarships will cover the cost of registration fees for events held inside or outside the Cornerstone region. However, lodging and travel expenses will only be reimbursed if the event is held inside the Cornerstone region and attendees stay at the host hotel.

What's Not Covered

Please carefully review the full Cornerstone Grants and Scholarships guidelines for details. 

The Southwest CUNA Management School (SCMS) scholarships and the application process are separate from the Professional Development Grant or Scholarships (see below). All Cornerstone credit unions are eligible for SCMS Scholarships and Community Development Grants regardless of other grants or scholarships received.

Thanks to the generous contributions of SCMS alumni and students, Cornerstone Foundation, TruStage, and others, scholarships are available for first, second, and third-year students enrolled in SCMS. Scholarships are not limited to one person per credit union. Any student may apply.

Deadlines

The 2024 grant application window will open Nov. 30, 2023. 

Process

Tuition is first paid to the school and then awarded scholarships are sent to the credit union on behalf of the student. All SCMS scholarships are awarded via a points matrix system, and only partial scholarships are awarded except for a full scholarship given to a first-year young professional: C2C (Connect to Collaborate) Scholarship.

The Cornerstone Foundation embraces the credit union philosophy, “People Helping People,” with a special emphasis on financial wellness. The National Credit Union Foundation determined 12 barriers to financial health & well-being for credit union members, staff, and communities. These barriers are known as Development Issues.

Community Development Grants are available to assist Cornerstone credit unions that are ready to combat one or more of the 12 development issues. This grant opportunity is intended to support the unique community development needs of credit union members.

Process

Cornerstone credit unions of all asset sizes are eligible for one Community Development Grant per calendar year. A credit union may submit another request upon completion of any previous grant-funded community project and the submission of a final report so long as the grant request falls in a new year. 

Applications received after December 6, 2024, will be considered for a 2025 grant, and reviewed in January.

The Cornerstone Foundation Grants Committee will review completed grant requests within 2-3 weeks of submission. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. 

Credit unions may apply alone or in conjunction with a nonprofit or other community partner to deliver the programming or events. Credit union partnerships and additional grant opportunities may include:

• Non-profit, community service organizations (Examples: YMCA, Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, Consumer Credit Counseling, Community Affordable Housing or Asset Building Organizations)
• Education-related organizations or schools (Examples: Junior Achievement, Partners in Education, Communities in Schools, Newspapers in Education, Schools, Districts, Parent-Teacher Organizations, Educator Continuing Education Programs)
• Religious Organizations (as long as the program or services are open to the community at large and/or credit union membership)
• Projects with a Financial Wellness component
• Hispanic Outreach initiatives
• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) or Minority Depository Institution (MDI) assistance

Community Development grants award a maximum of $10,000 and full funding is not guaranteed. Grant funding will be issued per the Community Development grant agreement. If the grant is approved, the credit union must implement the program and expend grant funds within a 12-month period.

Requirements

Please carefully review the full Cornerstone Grants and Scholarships guidelines for details. 

• General operating expenses – which includes, but not limited to the following: technology, digital banking, audits, policy reviews and assessments, equipment, payroll, furniture 
• Capital campaigns or “bricks and mortar”
• Fraternal organizations
• Religious organizations for religious purposes
• Political entities, organizations, or activities 
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of sex, religion, gender, or national origin
• Sponsorships, golf tournaments and other fundraising events
• Marketing and promotional products
• Scholarships for credit unions’ community partners
• Direct donations to credit unions supporting community nonprofits without a project component

Cornerstone Chapters serve a very important purpose in the credit union system. They are a source of professional and organizational development, local credit union awareness, and community outreach. Credit union chapters also are a centralized source of connection to credit unions for the community. Grants are available for Cornerstone chapters to help them achieve their goals and objectives. 

Each chapter is eligible to apply annually for one of the following:

• Professional Development Grant – Max Grant Size: $2,000
  • Training or educational programs or speakers that will be beneficial to member credit unions
• Community Development Grant – Max Grant Size: $10,000
  • Community Outreach Program that supports one of the 12 development issues
  • (See Community Development Grants for more guidelines)

Deadlines

Credit unions are known for their quick and generous support of disaster relief efforts. The Cornerstone Foundation can respond to disasters because of credit unions' commitment to "people helping people." Working together with the National Credit Union Foundation, America's Credit Unions, other Leagues, and affected credit unions, funds are distributed directly to those credit union staff and volunteers in need, so they can stabilize their lives and continue to serve their members. 

The term “disaster” for grant guidelines shall include natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and other weather disturbances, as well as man-made disasters such as fire and acts of terrorism. The term shall exclude; economic disasters such as recessions and depressions and local, regional, or national health events such as accidents, epidemics, or pandemics.

Eligibility

Disasters may affect only one individual from the credit union or many, and the Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation is able to assist no matter the size of the disaster. 

Process

The Foundation has established a two-phase process when disasters occur:

Phase I Emergency Relief Grant - available to credit union employees and volunteers to assist with immediate disaster relief needs, such as out-of-pocket costs that may result from being evacuated, insurance deductibles, and initial property repairs.

Phase I grant applications are accepted year-round up to 60 days after the disaster occurred. Once submitted, the Cornerstone Foundation grants committee reviews and approves grants of up to $1,000.

Phase II - intended to assist credit union employees and volunteers with additional significant needs. This is implemented only after the distribution of Phase I grants. This phase begins 90 days after the respective disaster and is dependent on the funds available. Phase II grants may be provided up to $5,000.