Give With Us Project
By Joyce Moed

HEATH, Ohio–Cammie Morrow, director of marketing and business development for Hopewell Federal Credit Union, first heard about the Give With Us project about one year ago.

"I heard about it at a seminar I went to," she said. "I thought it was so cool. And I thought it was right up our alley."

Give With Us is a project that falls under Filene Research Institute’s i3 program. It was created by Trabian in Fishers, Ind., a web development and hosting firm focused on helping credit unions reach members online.

According to its website, Give With Us unites volunteers with opportunities to serve.

"On a Give With Us site, you can research local opportunities to match your time and talents. Organizations post opportunities where help is needed. Communities win," read the website.
Hopewell FCU launched its Give With Us online forum about six months ago. And they have no regrets, Morrow said.

"I really think it’s been a great opportunity for us to get our name out in the community to get people to know us," she said. "It’s really been great for us."

When a member signs onto Hopewell FCU’s website, they may notice a link for Give With Us. This link will connect the member to a blog where companies can post when volunteers are needed.
For example, at press time, there was a post on the site from the Zanesville & Western Scenic railroad seeking volunteers from the community.

"Our train is currently located across the street from the Hopewell Federal CU and we need to do some work on it before we move it to its new home in Fultonham," the post reads.

The post has a response from a member offering to help."

And that’s how it works.

"People really like getting the word out through free posting," Morrow said. "It gives people a chance to reconnect."

Hopewell FCU was able to launch this forum with the help of a grant from the Ohio Credit Union Foundation.

"It cost us $3,500 to start," she said. "We paid $500, and applied for a grant for the remaining $3,000 to the Foundation. They thought it was a great project to support. The grant got approved in December. They were really helpful to us."

The cost to renew the project is $1,000 per year. Morrow said the CU plans to renew this in January.

"I really think that when people see us involved in the community, they see we care," she said.
As for the monetary ROI, Morrow said, "We have no idea at this point."

"We have seen people come in who have said they’ve seen it," she said. "It provides an opportunity for people to see us. It’s been great. "

Current members have also stopped in the CU and complimented the CU for this project, Morrow added.

Morrow said that several other credit unions have Give With Us forums, and she highly recommends it.

"It’s an easy cost-effective way for your members to connect," she said. It’s really a win-win."

www.hopewellfcu.givewith.us
www.hopewellfcu.org
www.givewithus.com
filene.org
trabian.com