The First Alliance Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in April 2022. Our goal is to improve the financial well-being for all members of our South East Minnesota community by working with community partners to relieve the financial stress of families and individuals. Financial stress comes in many forms, from food and housing insecurity to financial literacy needs and so much more. When community members are financially stable it impacts their mental and physical well-being and contributes positively to the local economy. Our Foundation will help by providing much needed funding to organizations in the Rochester area that are doing incredible work to improve the lives of financially stressed families and individuals in our community. 

Local Organizations & Programs Supported

Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Rochester: We funded the Money Matters program for 2023. Money Matters is youth development program with a curriculum promoting financial responsibility and independence among Boys & Girls Club members ages 13-18. This program increases the financial literacy of Club teens by focusing on critical money management skills such as goal setting, budgeting and saving, while also equipping them with the decision-making confidence to achieve financial well-being and lifelong success. By encouraging teens to envision their life after high school and into young adulthood, Money Matters prepares young people to select a career, manage benefits and earnings, and be supportive of family without the distraction of potential financial stressors. 

Bear Creek Services: We provided funding for an important renovation project to create wheelchair accessible housing for residence of Bear Creek Services at the Allendale House. The home has zero steps and has several other accessible attributes that will allow this home to support people with disabilities for decades to come! Allendale house will be a home for men who have developmental disabilities in the community.  The first residence moved into Allendale house during the summer of 2023.

Jeremiah Program: We provided funding to support coaching programs centered on college persistence for JP moms. A college education is a key to higher earnings, steady employment, and financial security. With the support of their JP Coach, JP moms explore career pathways, enroll or re-enroll in a local post-secondary program, map out their plan for program completion, and balance life as a non-traditional student parent. The coaching framework paces moms’ support needs throughout their post-secondary lifecycle and uses asset-based language that speaks to moms from a place of strength rather than perceived needs or deficits. 

Rochester Community & Technical College Foundation: We provided funding for the OAKS scholarship program. The OAKS (Overcoming Adversity Keeping Strong) program provides scholarships for students who have overcome significant adversity and want to pursue their education. The OAKS scholarships help support students "beat the odds" to pursue their education, leading to successful careers with many of our leading employers. The OAKS program helps disadvantaged students, whom are often low-income, immigrants, refugee, people of color, people with disabilities or mental health struggles, to access a quality education at RCTC. 

Family Service Rochester: We provided funding to support the local Meals on Wheels program. The Meals on Wheels program helps those in our community wo are often seen the least but in the most need, this includes the elderly and people with physical and mental disabilities who are often living in poverty in our SE MN community.70% of FSR's Meals on Wheels clients live alone and rely on services for both a hot meal and an assurance check, giving them and families peace of mind.  64% of the Meals on Wheels clients live below 185% of poverty and 93% of them require some kind of financial assistance to pay for their meal. 

Channel One: We provided funding for purchasing meals for food insecure families. Food insecurity is growing across the country and Channel One has experienced a 32% increase in monthly household visits to area food shelves compared to last year. The funding provided ensures that Channel One has the operational capacity to continue their mission and distribute more than 11.9 million pounds of food annually across 14 counties, support approximately 8,000 household visits a month to the Channel One Food Shelf, and serve an estimated 1,050 prepared meals weekly. 

 

 

Making a donation to the First Alliance Credit Union Foundation will provide direct support to organizations committed to alleviating financial stress for historically underserved communities in the Rochester area. Funds donated will support financial literacy education, improve affordable housing and eradicate homelessness, as well as provide access to basic needs and important services to those in our community. Use the button below to donate today.

Or mail your donation check to First Alliance Credit Union Foundation at:

At First Alliance Credit Union Foundation, we are committed to supporting 501(c)3 non-profit organizations in South East Minnesota that equip individuals with the resources necessary to achieve financial stability and well-being. However, please note that we do not provide funding to organizations with religious or political affiliations.

Please use the form below to provide as much detail as possible about your funding request, such as: 

Please note: The First Alliance Credit Union Foundation seeks to provide funding for specific programs and initiatives requiring a minimum of $1,500 in direct support. If you are looking for a sponsor for a fundraising or marketing event and/or are not part of a 501(c)3 organization, please send your support request to jtaubel@firstalliancecu.com

The First Alliance Credit Union Foundation is led by a volunteer board of directors. 

Contact our board: foundation@firstalliancecu.com