Iowa Credit Union Foundation

What Iowa Credit Union Foundation does

Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation established in 1995 in the wake of historic Iowa flooding, operating as the official philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League. Headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, the foundation provides grants, scholarships, disaster relief, and educational programs to advance financial well-being across Iowa, primarily serving Iowa credit unions and their members, ALICE households, students, and community organizations. Its eight core programs include Disaster Relief Grants, the Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarship Program (24 annual scholarships totaling $46,000), the People Helping People Financial Coach Training Program (350+ certified coaches across 42+ credit unions), Financial Inclusion Grants, Small Credit Union Grants, Lending School Scholarships, Charitable Fund Management, and Community Reports (ALICE Report, Economic Realities of Communities of Color).

ICUF's technology footprint is modest and operational rather than product-oriented: a Wix-based public website at iowacreditunionfoundation.org, DonorPerfect for donation processing, Constant Contact for email communications, Formstack for program applications, and a separate e-commerce store (icufstore.com) selling branded merchandise. There is no public API, no disclosed AI or ML capabilities, and no proprietary software product. The foundation's primary data assets are research publications (the ALICE Report co-published with United Ways of Iowa, the Economic Realities of Communities of Color report, and a Direct Care Workers wage study).

The foundation operates on a donation-driven revenue model, with no products or services sold to customers. Funds are generated from annual donations by Iowa credit unions (51 contributed $152,000 to kick off 2026), corporate sponsors, individual donors via the DonorPerfect donation portal, proceeds from the annual Benefit Night Fundraiser ($118,000 record in 2025), and merchandise sales. In 2025, ICUF invested more than $375,000 in mission-aligned initiatives and has cumulatively deployed over $5.1 million in grants, scholarships, and programs across Iowa since 1995. Distribution is exclusively domestic, single-state (Iowa), with programs delivered through direct credit union partnerships rather than commercial channels.

Name

Iowa Credit Union Foundation

Legal name

Iowa Credit Union Foundation

Website

https://iowacreditunionfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Iowa Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation established in 1995 that serves as the philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League, providing grants, scholarships, disaster relief, and financial education programs to Iowa credit unions, their members, and community organizations across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Credit union foundation
• Financial well-being programs
• Community grants
• Disaster relief grants
• Financial education

Headquarters

HQ city

West Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: ICUF generates revenue primarily through donations from Iowa credit unions, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. The organization hosts an annual Benefit Night Fundraiser that raised a record-breaking $118,000 in 2025. Additional donations come through a dedicated donation portal (DonorPerfect). Iowa credit unions contribute annual donations, with 51 credit unions donating over $152,000 to kick off 2026.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Iowa Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that administers charitable programs on behalf of the Iowa credit union movement. It awards disaster relief grants to displaced credit union members, provides college scholarships through the Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarship program, trains credit union staff as certified financial coaches, issues Financial Inclusion Grants to community nonprofits, manages charitable and donor-advised funds for credit unions, and publishes community research such as the ALICE Report.

Product overview

Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF) operates as a nonprofit foundation rather than a single unified software product. ICUF offers a portfolio of eight distinct programs and services: Charitable Fund Management (fund management and consultation for credit unions), Community Reports (research publications including ALICE and economic disparity reports), Credit Union Growth (Lending School Scholarships and Small Credit Union Grants), Disaster Relief Grants (emergency assistance for disaster-affected members), People Helping People Financial Coach Training Program (virtual training for credit union staff), Financial Inclusion Grants (grants for community organizations supporting minority financial well-being), Financial Literacy Resources (educational content hub), and Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarships (student scholarships for credit union members). These programs are funded through donations and operate as grant-making and educational initiatives rather than commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charitable Fund Management Fund management and consultation services for credit unions, including grant program guidance, donor-advised funds, restricted use funds, and scholarship program administration.
• Community Reports Research reports including the ALICE Report on household financial hardship, Economic Realities of Communities of Color report, and Direct Care Workers wage survey to inform community conversations and decision-making.
• Credit Union Growth (Lending School Scholarships and Small Credit Union Grants) Lending School Scholarships for credit union staff professional development and Small Credit Union Grants supporting technology upgrades, strategic initiatives, and staff training for smaller credit unions.
• Disaster Relief Grants Emergency financial assistance grants for Iowa credit union members displaced from their homes due to tornadoes, flooding, fires, or other natural disasters.
• People Helping People Financial Coach Training Program Annual virtual training program that equips credit union staff with tools, confidence and knowledge to guide members on their financial wellness journeys, facilitated by Adam Carroll.
• Financial Inclusion Grants Multi-year grant program directing funding to organizations advancing financial inclusion for minority populations in affordable housing, business ownership, childcare, education, employment, and health access.
• Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarships Scholarship program awarding 24 annual scholarships to graduating high school seniors and post-high school students who are Iowa credit union members pursuing higher education, named in honor of Warren A. Morrow.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,200+ credit union members achieved financial independence through $2.3 million in matched savings programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Ways of IowacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026ICUF partnered with United Ways of Iowa and United Way of Central Iowa to support the publication of the 2026 Iowa ALICE Report, which highlights financial strain faced by employed Iowans. This partnership provides critical data to help inform community conversations, local decision-making, and future solutions for financial well-being.
• United Way of Central IowacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-publishing partner with United Ways of Iowa for the 2026 ALICE Report, helping to highlight financial hardship data affecting Iowa households.
• National Financial Educators (Adam Carroll, Founder)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Adam Carroll, founder of National Financial Educators, facilitates and developed ICUF's 'People Helping People' Financial Coach Training Program. The partnership brings immersive learning and simulations designed to deepen understanding of how an individual's relationship with money can influence financial decision-making.
• Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995ICUF is the official philanthropic arm of the Iowa credit union movement and the Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL). ICUF advances its mission through advocacy, collaboration with ICUL and Iowa credit unions, investments in programs, and education initiatives.
• Dupaco Community Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDupaco Community Credit Union utilizes ICUF's Charitable Fund Management consultation services.
• DuTrac Community Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuTrac Community Credit Union utilizes ICUF's Donor Advised Fund program for charitable giving management.
• Community 1st Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity 1st Credit Union utilizes ICUF's Donor Advised Fund program for charitable giving management.
• 1st Gateway Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner1st Gateway Credit Union utilizes ICUF's Donor Advised Fund program for charitable giving management.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Filene Research Institute: Filene Research Institute is a credit union-affiliated research and innovation organization that produces reports, training, and insights for the credit union movement. It is comparable to ICUF's research and financial literacy components (ALICE Report, Community Reports) as a credit union ecosystem thought-leader, though it operates at a national rather than state level.
• National Financial Educators Council: National Financial Educators Council provides financial coach training and financial literacy curriculum, and Adam Carroll (founder of National Financial Educators) facilitates ICUF's People Helping People Financial Coach Training Program. It is comparable as the upstream training and curriculum partner enabling ICUF's flagship financial coaching program.

Direct peers

• Minnesota Credit Union Foundation: The Minnesota Credit Union Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Minnesota Credit Union Network, providing grants, scholarships, and financial education programs to credit unions and their members. It directly mirrors ICUF's structure, mission, and program mix in a neighboring state, making it a strong direct peer.
• United Way of Central Iowa: United Way of Central Iowa is a strategic co-publishing and program partner of ICUF on the ALICE Report and broader financial well-being initiatives. It is comparable as a regional community foundation focused on ALICE households and financial stability, sharing target beneficiary populations and program categories.
• Wisconsin Credit Union Foundation: The Wisconsin Credit Union Foundation supports credit unions in Wisconsin through grants, scholarships, and financial literacy initiatives, operating as the charitable arm of The Wisconsin Credit Union League. It is a direct peer to ICUF with comparable programmatic scope and credit union-affiliated foundation structure.
• Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation (Texas): Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation is the philanthropic and educational arm of the Cornerstone Credit Union League in Texas, administering scholarships, grants, and disaster relief for credit union members. It is the closest direct peer to ICUF as a state/regional credit union foundation with a near-identical program portfolio and operating model.

Broad incumbents

• CUNA Mutual Group Foundation: CUNA Mutual Group Foundation is the philanthropic arm of CUNA Mutual Group, providing charitable giving, financial education, and community grants connected to the broader credit union ecosystem. It is comparable as a credit union-affiliated grantmaking foundation, though it sits within a large financial services parent rather than a credit union league.
• National Credit Union Foundation (now Coopera): The National Credit Union Foundation operates as the national philanthropic arm of the U.S. credit union movement, running disaster relief, financial inclusion, and professional development programs. It is comparable to ICUF as a structurally analogous state/national-level credit union-affiliated foundation with overlapping program categories including disaster relief and financial coaching.

Others

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) - Financial Education resources: The CFPB provides financial literacy resources cited within ICUF's Financial Literacy Resources hub, and both entities address consumer financial well-being at scale. The CFPB is comparable as an ecosystem participant in the broader financial education domain, though it operates as a federal regulator rather than a grantmaking foundation.
• Cooperative Development Foundation: The Cooperative Development Foundation supports cooperatives and credit unions internationally through grants and disaster relief programs. It overlaps thematically with ICUF's cooperative credit union focus and disaster relief programming, though its international scope and broader cooperative mandate place it as an adjacent ecosystem peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/iowacreditunionfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowa-credit-union-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iowa Credit Union Foundation