Maps members on track to give back more than $130,000 to the community in 2022
Where a penny still makes a difference in Marion and Polk counties
Many of us would like to maximize our giving locally and are not aware of easy opportunities to make a significant impact. Take Maps Credit Union’s Free Community Checking program, for example. When a Maps member uses his or her debit card, Maps donates a penny back into the community with each transaction. Last year, this Free Community Checking program resulted in more than $130,000 given back into local education, scholarships, and nonprofit organizations.
“As we look ahead to GivingTuesday this November, we want to recognize the important role that our Maps members play in our local philanthropy. Just by using your Maps debit card, you are making an impact year-round through our community giving programs,” says Maps Community Foundation Executive Director Kim Hanson.
Those pennies really do add up. In 2020, Maps members put just over $113,000 back into local education, scholarships, and other community assistance programs. In 2021, members increased their impact by 16 percent simply through debit card swipes. Current Maps Community Foundation investments include college scholarships, community awards, teacher grants, impact partnerships, school donations, community events and sponsorships.
Giving is an important metric of Maps’ commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities served by Maps. Since its inception in 2012, the Maps’ Free Community Checking program has contributed nearly a million dollars back into the community. Over the past few years, Maps Credit Union has generously added to this amount as it has expanded its community-giving work through the expansion of the Maps Community Foundation.
The overall goal of Maps Community Foundation is to enrich the lives of members and our community by investing in education, economic empowerment, and community vibrancy. Maps’ giving is focused on Marion and Polk counties because most Maps members, about 75 percent, call this area home. With this simple and highly impactful penny-per-swipe give-back model, our members play a key role in our community giving efforts and have a direct impact in their communities.
Free Community Checking has no minimum balance. For each debit card purchase, Maps donates one penny to its charitable arm, the 501(c)(3) Maps Community Foundation. To learn more about Maps membership and its Free Community Checking program, visit www.mapscu.com.