Unitus Community Credit Union Donates $20,000 to Local Nonprofits through the Member Impact Fund

Posted by Britt Bonanzino on April 19, 2024

Unitus Community Credit Union, in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines), is pleased to announce that Community Vision and DevNW will each receive a $10,000 grant from Unitus and the FHLB Des Moines Member Impact Fund. This matching grant program provides $3 for every $1 of Unitus’ grant donation to make a larger impact in the affordable housing needs of our communities.

The grants awarded by FHLB Des Moines added $7,500 to Unitus’ donations to both Community Vision and DevNW. Community Vision is a non-profit that provides housing services and critical access to affordable housing for people with disabilities. DevNW advances neighborhood wellbeing and accessible homeownership for all members of the communities it serves.

“We are grateful to partner with FHLB Des Moines to strengthen our donations to these critical non-profits that are making a positive impact in affordable housing,” explained Aimee Berg, Community Development Manager at Unitus Community Credit Union. “Through our partnership with Community Vision and DevNW, we are working toward finding solutions to the affordable housing crisis.”

“We are deeply grateful for the support from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and Unitus Community Credit Union,” said Jill Cabral Schinn, Strategic Partnerships Director at Community Vision. “The strategic investment in our meaningful work ensures that Community Vision will continue to address disparities in housing for people with disabilities. We are thankful to have Unitus as a partner in the pursuit of equitable access to affordable housing.”

FHLB Des Moines awarded matching grants based on each organization’s needs to support the capacity-building or working capital necessary to strengthen their ability to serve affordable housing or community development needs, including training, pre-development assistance, management information systems or software, strategic planning, and market studies or community needs assessments.

“Homeownership builds healthy families and communities, yet the path to owning a home is extremely difficult. Today’s housing market coupled with rising interests have made it extremely difficult for low-income Oregonians to achieve the dream of homeownership,” explained Luis Mendoza, Asset Building Manager at DevNW. “With the support of Unitus Community Credit Union and the Federal Home Loan Bank Member Impact Fund, DevNW’s financial and homeownership education and counseling services are helping to advance neighborhood wellbeing and accessible homeownership for all members of our community.”

The Member Impact Fund was introduced in 2023, providing $20 million in matching funds to eligible organizations. In 2024, FHLB Des Moines increased the Member Impact Fund by $10 million.

“We are thrilled to see grants from our Member Impact Fund having a direct, positive impact on the communities in which our members help advance affordable housing and community development needs in a meaningful way,” shared Kris Williams, President and CEO of FHLB Des Moines.

“These matching funds tripled our impact, which will help advance the work being done in our community,” said Steven Stapp, President and CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union. “We are grateful to FHLB Des Moines for the 3-to-1 match of our donations to Community Vision and DevNW as they work to address affordable housing and community development initiatives.”

Posted in Oregon, Regional Member News.