The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions helps low- and moderate-income people and communities achieve financial independence through credit unions.

More than sixty years ago, a number of credit unions were founded with the specific mission of serving low-income and minority communities beyond the reach of banks and mainstream credit unions. Community development credit unions specialize in serving populations generally considered the hardest to serve, including low-income wage earners, recent immigrants, aging populations and people with disabilities.

Established in 1974 by a coalition of credit union leaders dedicated to revitalizing low-income communities, the Federation seeks to strengthen those credit unions that serve low-income, urban and rural communities - known as community development credit unions or CDCUs.

We carry out our mission by advocating for and providing financial, technical, and human resources to help CDCUs reach more Americans in need.

Cooperative Finance Leaders for America: A Fellowship Program for Credit Unions: Now Accepting Applictations!

Applications Due July 1st

The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (Federation) is launching an innovative pilot program to cultivate future leaders of the credit union movement. The Cooperative Finance Leaders for America (CFLA) will recruit, train and support fifteen (15) new and emerging professionals to be placed in leadership positions in credit unions dedicated to providing credit and safe banking services to low- and moderate-income communities. 

Participating credit unions will gain a new source of talented, diverse staff, drawn from among recent college graduates, graduate students, returning veterans, and displaced financial workers. Through a six-month paid fellowship, these new leaders will put their skills and passion for cooperative finance to work. The CFLA intensive training program will include a two-week summer institute (one week in person; one week on-line) in August and on-going support throughout the six-month fellowship. All fellowships are expected to begin in September 2013 and continue through February 2014.   

CFLA will enable credit unions to gain access to a new pool of talented staff who share the values of the movement. The program will recruit and develop new leaders who bring energy, strong skills and fresh perspectives into credit unions. Also, CFLA alumni will receive long-term support, in keeping with the goal that they will become the next generation of credit union CEOs and thought leaders.

Completed applications for both the fellows and the credit unions are due on July 1st. Click here for a complete description of the CFLA Program and link to the application forms for the credit unions and the fellows. We encourage credit unions to recruit candidates they would like to participate in the fellowship program. 

For additional questions, please contact Pamela Owens, Vice President of Programs at (212) 809-1850, Ext. 215/powens@cdcu.coop or Jason Chang, Program Associate at Ext. 205/jchang@cdcu.coop.