TACOMA, WA (September 19, 2013) -- The CDFI Fund announced that $1.1 million in grant funds was awarded to grant writing firm CU Strategic Planning’s two credit union clients through the FY 2013 NACA Program (Native American CDFI Assistance) award: Hawaii First Federal Credit Union, which received $524,000, and The Queen’s Federal Credit Union, which received $659,000. Only one other credit union had a grant approved. It was for $150,000. For CU Strategic Planning, it shows a 100 percent success rate, as these credit unions’ applications were the only two grants the firm submitted to the NACA Program. In addition, both credit unions were awarded the entire dollar amount requested in their applications. As a result, the firm, which bills itself as the number one credit union grant writing firm landed 90 percent of the dollars awarded to credit unions and nearly 10 percent of the $12.4 million NACA Award dollars.
“We are passionate about what we do and this award empowers our staff to continue helping our Native community,” says Laura Aguirre, president and CEO of Hawaii First FCU. “We are grateful to CU Strategic Planning, as this is our third winning CDFI grant in our history with this amazing company.”
Through the NACA Program, the CDFI Fund provides funding to build the community development capacity of Certified Native CDFIs, Emerging Native CDFIs, and Sponsoring Entities, and to increase access to capital in Native Communities.
"These awards are significant achievements for our team, the winning credit unions and
Native Hawaiian communities," says CU Strategic Planning Founder, Jamie Chase, "Hawaii First started our company’s work serving the Native Hawaiian community years ago. We couldn’t happier that our long-term relationship continues to reap big awards for their credit union – and our team did a stellar job in achieving both these awards."
About CU Strategic Planning
Headquartered in Tacoma, WA, CU Strategic Planning is the only strategic planning facilitator in the United States with the mission to help credit unions realize their potential through the International Credit Union Operating Principles. It is widely considered the #1 writer of credit union Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) grant and NACA grant applications. No firm serving credit unions writes and wins more CDFI awards than CU Strategic Planning. Its “Miracle Makers” have 100 percent success with CDFI certification. For more information, visit www.creditunionstrategicplanning.com.