The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation works across North and South Carolina to serve as a resource for our credit unions, their employees, and the communities they serve. Specifically, during times of disaster, we are unrelenting in our commitment to support recovery efforts for the Carolinas and beyond. Since the Foundation established the disaster fund following the attack on 9/11, nearly $3 million has been awarded in disaster relief grants. Our relationship with the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the National Credit Union Foundation, credit unions in the Carolinas, as well as state and local government officials helped to make this possible, and we are not finished. We want to thank you in advance for embracing our purpose of people helping all people.

Hurricane Helene Recovery

Through the Disaster Relief Fund, we have been able to provide aid and support to credit unions, their employees, and volunteers directly impacted by Hurricane Helene. As a credit union employee or volunteer, you are eligible to receive grant assistance in Phase I for immediate needs such as, but not limited to, food, temporary shelter and housing, gas, transportation, and insurance deductibles. The assistance provided will also cover expenses incurred due to temporary displacements, relocation costs, and personal property losses that insurance is not able to cover. Phase II funding provides additional financial support for employees and volunteers who have damage to their home that is not covered by insurance or other sources of relief aid. Please click on the application below to begin the grant process.

As of December 17, $627,796 in disaster relief grants have been distributed to 696 credit union employees & volunteers. Fundraising is still ongoing, but the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation would like to express sincere gratitude to credit unions, system partners, and individual donors. For a complete donor list, please click here.

2022

Guided by the call from leaders of credit unions in the Carolinas, the Carolinas Credit Union League & Carolinas Credit Union Foundation set a goal of raising $50,000 for the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund by April 1, 2022. Together, the credit union community in the Carolinas raised more than $280,000 through May 2022. The fund, established by the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, directs support to mitigate the impact to Ukraine’s credit union system and those that look to it for support, including both employees and members.

2020

The Foundation activated its Disaster Relief Fund in April of 2020 to support a COVID-19 Relief Program, available to employees of Carolina-based credit unions who were experiencing significant financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. Over the course of a year, the Foundation processed more than 500 grants and $380,425 was disbursed to hundreds of Carolina-based credit union employees. The Foundation is grateful to the many donors, both current and past donors, who made these hardship grants possible. 2020-2021 Disaster Relief Fund donors include: Allegacy, Anderson, Charlotte Metro, Coastal, Fort Bragg, Greenville, Palmetto Citizens, SC Federal, Self-Help, Sharonview, Shuford, State Employees’, Excess Share Insurance and individual donors from the Carolinas Credit Union League.

2018

In 2018, Hurricane Florence devastated many in the Carolinas, and the Foundation was there to help our credit union employees get back quickly to serving members. To date, we have processed 253 grants and awarded $180,418.43 in aid to credit union employees. We are very appreciative of all donors in the Carolinas and across the country who made these grants possible, and of the time and energy of part-time Foundation staff and the League to ensure that funds were delivered quickly to those in need. Click here to view the list of 2018 Disaster Relief Fund donors.

2017

In 2017, hurricanes and wildfires created unsurmountable destruction and a total of $558,000 was donated by the credit union industry in the Carolinas. A factor that enhanced local contributions was the Carolinas Foundation’s decision to implement a grant-matching campaign following each call for aid by the National Credit Union Foundation and the World Council of Credit Union. In total, the Carolinas Foundation provided $15,000 in support with its matched grant initiatives for credit unions impacted in 2017. $537,300 came from credit unions directly and close to $6,000 was provided by credit union members and employees. Click here to view the list of 2017 Disaster Relief Fund donors.

2016

In 2016, $100,000 was disbursed in the Carolinas after Hurricane Matthew in the form of quick impact grants to credit union employees and members as well as grants to Community Foundations for ongoing recovery efforts.

Want To Donate?

The Foundation does not charge a fee to administer the Disaster Relief Fund. This means that each donation or contribution is disbursed dollar-for-dollar. If you would like to contribute to the disaster fund, please forward your check to:

Carolinas Credit Union Foundation
Attention: Disaster Relief
PO Box 1787
Columbia, SC 29202

Please contact Lauren Whaley for wire/ACH instructions.

Disaster Relief Support