Your Credit Union Partner

Congratulations to all of the credit unions announced today as recipients of the NCUA's $50,000 Underserved Outreach Grants!

It's especially rewarding to see so many familiar names on this year's award list. Many of these successful applications were prepared by our own Tom Sakash, whose passion for helping credit unions expand their impact continues to make a real difference.
These grants aren't just about funding. They represent new opportunities to reach underserved communities, strengthen financial well-being, launch innovative programs, and extend the credit union mission where it's needed most.

To every credit union that received an award: congratulations on your commitment to serving your communities. We can't wait to see the impact these projects will have over the coming year.

You can view the complete list of awardees here:

2025 Grant Round Awardees Credit Union NameCityStateInitiative/Award TypeProject ActivityAmount Approved1ST BERGENHackensackNJUnderserved OutreachNew or Expanded Financial Education Programs$50,000.001ST MISSISSIPPIMeridianMSUnderserved OutreachNew or Expanded Financial Education Programs; New or Expanded Outreach Efforts$50...

I Get Up Again

Life isn't for the faint of heart.

Neither is working in the credit union movement.

Over the past 40 years, I've learned that no matter how carefully we plan, life has a way of introducing challenges we never saw coming. Emergencies. Health issues. Loss. Betrayal. Unexpected setbacks. Toxic environments. Professional disappointments. Circumstances beyond our control that create stress, uncertainty, and sometimes make us question ourselves.

There are times when that stress threatens to get the best of us.

But don't you dare let it.

One of the greatest blessings of my career has been the opportunity to work alongside some of the most resilient people I have ever known. Credit union leaders, employees, volunteers, and friends who have faced challenges that seemed impossible at the time.

I've watched people navigate organizational crises, financial hardships, leadership struggles, and personal tragedies. I've seen them inherit problems they didn't create and accept responsibilities they never expected. I've watched them get knocked down by circumstances that would have caused many others to quit.

And yet, they got up again.

Not because it was easy.

Not because they weren't hurting.

Not because they had all the answers.

They got back up because quitting wasn't an option. They learned, adjusted, leaned on others when needed, and kept moving forward.

In fact, when I look back on many of the most successful credit
union leaders I work with today, a surprising pattern emerges. Many of them didn't start from a position of strength. They were facing difficult trials. They had challenges to overcome. They made hard decisions. They learned from mistakes. They fought through adversity and came out stronger on the other side.

People sometimes ask me where I learned what I know about credit unions. The answer is probably not what they expect.

Most of what I've learned didn't come from conferences, books, or training programs. It came during difficult stretches when things weren't going according to plan. When I was facing uncertainty, dealing with disappointment, or trying to figure out what came next.

Those weren't fun times. In fact, I wouldn't choose many of those experiences again. But I wouldn't trade what they taught me either.
Those challenges taught me lessons about leadership, resilience, humility, and perseverance that I couldn't have learned any other way. They also helped me see the good in people. Looking back, some of the brightest examples of character I've ever witnessed came from people walking an incredibly difficult path.

Perhaps most importantly, those experiences taught me that none of us make it through life's rough patches alone.

There have been times in my own life when I needed others to believe in me more than I believed in myself. I needed people who were patient when I was struggling, who offered encouragement when I was discouraged, and who reminded me of my worth when I couldn't see it myself.

Some of those people probably have no idea how much their kindness mattered.

But it did.

Their encouragement, friendship, and faith helped me find my footing again. Combined with hard work, faith, and a stubbornness not to give up, they helped me get back up again.

These thoughts have been on my mind a lot lately because many of my personal and professional friends are going through a rough patch. Some are facing challenges in their organizations. Some are carrying burdens at home. Some are dealing with things that few people know about.

It weighs on me because I care deeply about them, and I often wish there was more I could do.

Over the years, I've learned that we can't always fix someone's problems. We can't always make the pain go away. But we can be present. We can listen. We can offer encouragement. We can lend a hand where we can. We can remind people of the strengths we see in them when they struggle to see those strengths themselves.

Sometimes that's exactly what a person needs.

To those who are facing difficult times right now, I want you to know this: you are not defined by your worst day, your biggest mistake, a setback, or a difficult stretch in your life. There is still value in you. There is still purpose ahead of you. There are lessons to be learned, growth to be experienced, and better days ahead.
Keep going.

The people who care about you are rooting for you, even if they haven't said it lately.

And for those who know someone who is struggling, I have a simple request. Offer a little grace. Extend a little encouragement. Be patient. Be present. Not everyone shares what they're going through. Some burdens are simply too personal or too painful to talk about.

The credit union movement has always been about people helping people.

Sometimes the person who needs help is sitting in the office next door, across the board table, or right beside us.

Be the person who offers a little hope, a little kindness, and a reminder that they're going to make it through this.

Sometimes that's exactly what someone needs to get back up again.

Today I have the privilege of joining Helen Mickel and the team at Tongass Federal Credit Union for a strategic planning session.

After more than four decades in the credit union movement, I still find it inspiring to spend time with leaders who never lose sight of why credit unions exist. Helen and her team are among those leaders. Tongass FCU has earned a reputation as one of the credit union movement's true community development champions, combining a deep commitment to serving people with a strong, healthy, and growing organization.

That combination is not easy to achieve. Many organizations focus primarily on growth, while others focus solely on mission. Tongass FCU continues to demonstrate that mission and margin can work together to create lasting impact for members and the community.

I am looking forward to the conversations ahead as we discuss opportunities, challenges, and the future vision for the credit union. More importantly, I am looking forward to learning from a team that has consistently demonstrated what it means to put cooperative principles into action.

Thank you, Helen, and the entire Tongass FCU team, for the opportunity to be part of the journey.