Dora Maxwell Award

Dora Maxwell was an early credit union pioneer. One of the original signers of CUNA's constitution at Estes Park, Colorado, she worked as an organizer for the movement's trade association (then called the Credit Union National Extension Bureau) and held numerous volunteer positions at the local and national level. In addition to organizing hundreds of credit unions, she developed volunteer organizer clubs and worked with organizations on behalf of the poor.

Submission questions here.

Purpose

To promote social responsibility among credit unions by formally recognizing their community service achievements.

Procedure

Prior to judging, ensure you verify the credit union’s asset size. Each league will select winners from each of the following categories:

• Less than $5 million in assets
• $5 - $20 million in assets
• $20 - $50 million in assets
• $50 - $100 million in assets
• $100 - $200 million in assets
• $200 - $500 million in assets
• $500 million - $1 billion
• $1 billion+
• Credit union chapter/multiple credit union group

Only the first place winner in each category will advance to the national competition

Chapter/multiple credit unions groups’ entries should describe a project or activity that was conducted as a chapter/multiple credit union group, not credit unions' individual contributions or projects.

Submit only one entry form, even if there were multiple projects. If a credit union conducted multiple projects, they must pick their most successful and/or unique project and complete the entry form based on that one project.  Providing promotional materials for that one project is essential but additional materials for other projects can be included in the entry.

Eligible Activities

Credit unions could receive an award for involvement in almost any kind of activity that helps other people or strengthens the structure of a community. This might include raising funds for charity, educational activities, or community involvement projects, such as a volunteer fair, building low-income housing, or loaning employees a few hours a week to work in hospitals, retirement homes, schools, etc.