Community Connections
Empowering the communities we call home
CU Financial Management is a community-driven organization committed to strengthening the places we call home.
How CU Financial Management gives back
When partnering with organizations, sponsoring programs or donating to local causes, we look at how they align with our three areas of focus: financial literacy, equal opportunities and community need.
Financial literacy
We believe that by sharing our expertise and supporting financial literacy programs and initiatives we can make a tangible difference across Atlantic Canada.
Equal opportunities
Improving access to skill development programs and educational opportunities for youth and equity-deserving populations is essential to the success of our communities.
Community need
We support local grassroots organizations on issues of great need within our communities — such as food security, poverty reduction and disaster relief.
Our partnerships
Windmill Microlending Fund
We’re passionate about supporting the growth of the Atlantic Canadian economy. We’ve partnered with Windmill Microlending to provide affordable loans to skilled immigrants and refugees who bring an abundance of talents and experiences that help our economies thrive. This funding supports our communities by addressing and filling gaps that exist in our local economy and salesforce.
Windmill also matches our team members with program participants to mentor them as they begin their professional journey in Canada.
First Tee
Sports and recreation programs build invaluable interpersonal skills and confidence in our youth, but many programs are financially out of reach for lower-income families. However, First Tee — Atlantic is striving to change that. Under the operation of Golf Canada and in collaboration with provincial golf associations, First Tee – Atlantic offers accessible and inclusive programming at golf courses, schools, and community centres and provides children with life-enhancing experiences through golf.
CU Financial Management has partnered with First Tee — Atlantic as one of their Regional Champions to support programs that “level the playing field” for all youth. Funds directly facilitate the delivery of introductory golf environments in equity-deserving communities across all four Atlantic provinces.
Our bursary program
Providing financial assistance to post-secondary students helps close the achievement gap. CU Financial Management believes in the impact providing a helping hand to emerging leaders at the start of their careers can make in our communities and economies.
We award four bursaries (one in each Atlantic Canadian province) at accredited universities or colleges for first-year or returning students.
Stay tuned for more information on our bursary program and how to apply for Fall 2023.
Our financial giving
Poverty reduction
The Atlantic Canadian provinces have among the highest poverty rates in Canada, with inflation and cost of living increases exasperating the issue.We support food security organizations and projects to address this area of need.
Disaster relief
The impacts of climate change have brought more devastating storms and weather-related disasters to our region. Given the increased frequency and severity of these events, we support our communities through emergency response and relief agencies.
Supporting our team in giving back
Employee volunteer days
Improving the communities we’re a part of is one of our core values. We know that each member of our team has a cause that’s close to their heart, whether it’s giving their time to volunteer at their local food bank or sharing their expertise on the board of a local non-profit. To support them in giving back to their communities in a meaningful way, we offer paid volunteer days.
Community Champion Award
Each year, we honour a team member who has inspired others by taking an active role in giving back to their community. The recipient receives $500 to donate to an organization of their choice.
This year’s Community Champion is Margo Noseworthy. Margo chose to donate to Nevaeh’s Angel Foundation, an organization that raises money for the families of sick children in Newfoundland to help alleviate the financial stress that cancer can cause.
