MADISON, Wis. — Calyn Ostrowski has been named director of the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable arm for World Council of Credit Unions. As director, Ostrowski will manage the Worldwide Foundation's Supporter funding and network to help expand World Council's international credit union development and education initiatives.
"The assistance we receive from World Council Supporters is vital to the work we do each day," said Brian Branch, World Council president and CEO. "Calyn's proven track record in international development and dialogue make her an excellent fit for building and expanding our global community."
Ostrowski has most recently led program, operational and fundraising initiatives for the Global Health Initiative (GHI) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a foreign policy think-tank based in Washington, D.C. While at the Center, Ostrowski developed and facilitated public policy dialogue programs to increase global health education and political willpower among domestic and international policymakers, nonprofit organizations, corporations, media and donors to improve the economic, social and physical well-being of communities in developing countries. She managed the GHI grants administration process and also developed policy dialogue programs for the Center's Environmental Change and Security Program. Ostrowski's fundraising strategies helped secure a record-high increase in GHI's revenue.
Ostrowski earned a master's degree in nonprofit management and business administration from Case Western Reserve University. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science and psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Ostrowski joins World Council's headquarters in Madison, Wis. (USA).
World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.
World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 51,000 credit unions in 100 countries serve 196 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.