Alliant Credit Union Invests in Digital Equity and More

Over the last few months, we’ve put a spotlight on some credit unions that have been inspiring our team (see here and here). The more we look, the more we’re finding organizations that invest time, money, and energy into improving the world around them. So we figured: why stop now? Today, we want to turn our spotlight on another credit union doing impressive work to serve its members and its community. 

Through the Alliant Foundation, Alliant Credit Union is taking powerful steps to advance digital inclusion. As our world becomes increasingly reliant on digital resources, the Foundation works to ensure that resources like broadband access, digital devices, and educational materials get equitably distributed. 

Why this work matters

The Alliant Foundation gathered up some statistics to highlight the importance of its digital inclusion priority. For example, they shared that 1 in 5 parents say their children can’t finish homework because of lack of computer access or unreliable internet. 

The Foundation also shared some data on the percentage of people in certain demographics who have home broadband:

• 56% of households earning less than $30,000
• 59% of adults aged 65+ 
• 66% of Black households 
• 61% of Latinx households 

Clearly, then, a digital divide exists. The Alliant Foundation has been hard at work since 2008 to close it.

The Alliant Foundation’s work 

The Alliant Foundation is actively investing money into advancing digital equity through its grant program for 501c3 not-for-profit organizations. Any nonprofits with a mission that aligns with the Foundation’s can apply for grant money here.  

The Alliant Foundation’s monetary commitment is sizable. At the end of 2023, for example, it closed grant applications for $1,000,000 in awards to be distributed among nonprofits that do any of the following:

• Deliver devices and reliable internet to people who need it most
• Provide digital skills education to impacted communities
• Call on community leaders for internet accessibility reform

"Across the nation, unequal digital access has created economic and financial literacy disadvantages for our most at-risk communities," explained Meredith Ritchie, Board President of the Alliant Foundation. "Through these grants, the Alliant Credit Union Foundation is taking action to help bring digital equity and inclusion for more Americans at the local level, in communities where it's needed most." 

Backing its employees’ causes

Alliant Credit Union has focused its Foundation’s efforts on digital equity, but that’s not the only way the financial institution gives back. It also makes donations to causes that matter to its employees. 

Specifically, the credit union will match employee donations to qualifying charitable organizations, up to $1,000 each year. To date, that has meant that more than 50 good causes have received checks from Alliant Credit Union. Employees have given matched donations to organizations working on everything from Alzheimer’s research to zoological studies.

Each year, employees donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities — and Alliant Credit Union matches much of it. 

With so many resources committed to helping others, it’s perhaps unsurprising that employees speak highly of this credit union. This year, Alliant won three accolades in Built In’s 2024 Workplace Awards: 

• Best Midsize Places to Work: U.S. 
• Best Midsize Places to Work: Chicago
• Best Places to Work: Chicago

You can see the credit union’s profile on Built In here. 

We’re inspired to see everything that Alliant Credit Union is doing to advance digital inclusion while also supporting its employees and the things they care about! 

If their work has you similarly inspired but you need more time to invest in giveback efforts, let’s talk. Because we offer tools that automate marketing for mortgage lenders, we can help you generate more leads with less time investment. Book a demo if you’d like to learn more. 

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