TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — LEVERAGE said its board has approved nearly $1.4 million in donations to support advocacy, political engagement and disaster resilience initiatives benefiting credit unions across four states: Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Virginia.
The organization, which is the wholly owned holding company of The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates, said the funding includes $1.2 million in newly approved contributions, in addition to $180,000 previously allocated to the Credit Union Impact Foundation.
LEVERAGE said the latest investment brings its total contributions to more than $5 million over the past six years.
“Strategic investments like this ensure credit unions have the resources and support needed to operate and grow in a changing environment,” Olabode “Ola” Anise, chair of the LEVERAGE board and CEO of Azalea City Credit Union, said in a statement.
Range of Initiatives
The funding will support a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening the credit union system, including:
- $600,000 for The Advocacy Fund: Supporting efforts to elect credit union–friendly candidates at the federal and state levels and funding modernization of the D.C. Credit Union House.
- $400,000 for state political action committees (PACs): Strengthening relationships with policymakers and backing candidates supportive of credit unions.
- $180,000 for the Credit Union Impact Foundation: Supporting disaster resilience efforts to assist credit unions affected by natural disasters.
- $100,000 for the Office of Small Credit Unions: Providing grants and targeted resources to help smaller institutions grow and adapt.
- $100,000 for professional development initiatives: Supporting training and resources for credit union staff.
‘Ability to Engage’
“Support for The League’s Advocacy Fund and state political action committees strengthens our ability to engage with lawmakers and advance policies that protect the credit union model,” Richard J. “Rick” Skaggs, chair of The League board and CEO of USF Credit Union, said in a statement.
Steve Willis, president of LEVERAGE, said the funding represents a return of value generated by the organization back into the credit union system, while Samantha Beeler, president of The League, said the investments will help credit unions maintain operations and serve members, particularly during times of crisis.
The initiatives are intended to support credit unions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Virginia, with a focus on strengthening operations, enhancing advocacy efforts and improving resilience in the face of natural disasters, according to the organizations.
