Real Solutions - A National Credit Union Foundation Program

On Friday, December 4, 2009 I notified the National Credit Union Foundation board and staff that I would be leaving NCUF effective December 31, 2009 to become President and CEO of America’s Charities. This decision is based on the opportunity with America’s Charities where I have a long-time volunteer leadership affiliation.

This was a very, very difficult decision because the work we are doing at NCUF so important. But I have made the decision to leave knowing that NCUF has in place the critical elements for continued success: a clear mission, strong a dedicated staff who are truly experts in what they do, a strong financial position despite the economy, and engaged volunteer leadership.

I want to thank the NCUF staff, Tom Candell, Lois Kitch, Tom Decker, Joise Collins, Jill Stevenson, Yulanda Grant, Jeff Purvis and Lauren Pan for all they’ve done and will do to keep NCUF on track as an innovator, risk-taker, and thought-leader. I also want to thank Steve Bosack, my long-time deputy who was the perfect balance to my sometimes impatient often smidge-too-aggressive style. We had become known as “Steve-Squared” to the NCUF board and staff because they knew if I wasn’t available, Steve could and would make the tough calls and the right decisions. He’ll continue to serve the credit union movement well at NCUA.

And I want to thank the NCUF board for their support, vision and flexibility over the past five years. Taking on REAL Solutions as our “signature” program was a pretty radical step for NCUF when we did it back in 2006. Mary Cunningham was NCUF Chair then and led tremendous intellectual discussion about the pros and cons of NCUF becoming a program delivery as well as a grant-making entity. Thanks to the superb pilot work done by the Filene Research Institute and that intellectual discussion at the Board level, we moved forward aggressively. My philosophy has always been that philanthropic dollars are meant for risk-taking and innovation. We did both with REAL Solutions.

There were skeptics and critics saying among other things we would never mobilize large enough numbers of leagues or credit unions to make a difference. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be able to say today, just three short years later, that REAL Solutions has grown to encompass 33 states, with over 800 participating credit unions representing nearly 10% of all credit unions, 19% of all credit union assets, and 20% of all credit union members. It has tremendous potential for even more growth and sustainability. And much of this has come in two of the worst economic years ever in the credit union movement. If you ever wonder if one person can make a difference, I offer you this: Lois Kitsch, a force of nature.

I think REAL Solutions’ success says a lot about those progressive leagues and credit unions who understand where many new members will come from – the underserved, young adults, and emerging households – and the effort it will take to reach them.

When I was with the management consulting firm Booz∙Allen∙Hamilton we used to say; “be known for something”. We used that simple, focused philosophy at NCUF to move from being primarily a grant-making foundation, to a thought leader and content expert around serving the underserved and emerging markets, and strategic philanthropy. We now have a strong national presence both within and outside of the credit union movement that will serve NCUF well moving forward. I’m also very proud of the fact that we have built a strong reserve during the years when the Foundation actually raised more money than budgeted for grants and programs. NCUF can move forward in a strong financial position poised for growth and sustainability.

As I’ve said many times in speaking around the country, right now is the time for credit unions to leverage their unique standing in the financial services marketplace as a leader in social responsibility and social impact. With REAL Solutions, the Development Education Program and with leverage from our Innovation Grants NCUF will keep pushing the envelope in collaboration with CUNA, Filene, the leagues, our sponsors and contributions, and others who share the vision of socially responsible growth by serving the underserved.

I’m extremely excited about where I’m going. For some 15 years I’ve served on Boards and Committees of America’s Charities, which is a national federation of 180 prominent national and local non-profits that work with employers and employees to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their workplace charity donations using payroll deductions. America’s Charities also serves as a consulting and technology vendor helping employers improved their employee workplace philanthropy and over strategic philanthropy programs.

America’s Charities members range from Make-A-Wish Foundation , to Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities, and Feed the Children, to Hospice of America, Meals-on-Wheels, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Reading is Fundamental.

America’s Charities long-time CEO decided to retire early and I was encouraged by some board members there to consider the position. Again, this was a very difficult decision because the work we are doing at NCUF is so important. But I’ve always had a passion for and have stayed engaged in expanding strategic workplace philanthropy going back to my 11 year career in the United Way system. So I put my hat in the ring and was fortunate enough to be their selection following a national search.

To my new friends in the credit union movement, I have been honored to serve and will continue to be a vocal advocate, and will look for ways to work together in my new role. America’s Credit Unions and America’s Charities; has a nice ring.