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Our Mission
The First Alliance Credit Union Foundation’s mission is to make financial success achievable for all. We believe the key to financial success starts with alleviating financial stress, especially for those communities that have been historically underserved. To that end, we support organizations that seek to relieve the financial stress of those in need but also use innovative, inclusive programs and proven methods to empower individuals by providing them with the financial tools they need to succeed.
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About Us
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 South East Minnesota that are doing incredible work to improve the lives of financially stressed families and individuals in our community.
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Our Impact
Collider Foundation: We provided funding for the community incubator program. This program is free to participants and focuses on women, BIPOC, veteran, low income, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who live or operate their business in Rochester, Minnesota. The incubator helps early stage entrepreneurs go from a business model on paper to a workable product or service to test with their target market. This support allows for an early stage entrepreneur to receive 3+ months of individualized consulting and support, at no cost to them, to remove barriers to entrepreneurship and financial wellbeing.
United Way of Olmsted County: We provided funding to support bringing the Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (A.L.I.C.E.) research project to Dodge, Fillmore, Olmsted, and Winona Counties. ALICE households earn above the Federal Poverty Level but are unable to afford the cost of basics including housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology. Unlike the Federal Poverty Line and Consumer Price Index, the ALICE threshold is based on the local prices of essentials that low-income households prioritize. 1 in 3 households in Olmsted County are ALICE and by supporting this research we hope to close the gap between financial hardship and financial stability so that every family, in every ZIP code, has an equal opportunity to thrive.
Rochester Somali Community Center: We provided funding for housing navigational support services. These services assist Somali individuals and families in finding rental properties or managing their housing payments, ensuring they fully understand all details of their contracts to make informed decisions to help safeguarding their housing stability as newcomers to SE MN.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Rochester: We funded the Money Matters program. 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.
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How to Donate
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. Funds donated will support programs and initiatives aimed at financial literacy education, improving affordable housing and eradicating homelessness, as well as provide access to basic needs and important services to those in our community.
Donate online or mail your donation check to First Alliance Credit Union Foundation at:
First Alliance Credit Union Foundation, Inc.300 North Main StreetStewartville, MN 55976ATTN: Foundation Treasurer -
Request Funding
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 long term financial stability and well-being. The First Alliance Credit Union Foundation seeks to provide funding for specific programs and initiatives requiring a minimum of $1,500 in direct support. 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:
- Documentation of your 501(c)3 status- Relevant timelines for your request- Explain the specific programs/projects your organization is seeking support for- Information about how your organization provides our community with financial relief- Specific details about how the funds will be used to advance financial wellbeingPlease note: 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
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2025 Golf Tournament Fundraiser
First Alliance Foundation Board of Directors
Jenna Taubel
Board Chair
Jenna brings over 10 years of passion for credit unions and community impact to the Foundation. During her credit union career, she has served in volunteer leadership roles in both the credit union industry and within our local community.
LeAnne Trom
Vice Chair
LeAnne has served the credit union industry for many years. She has a passion for helping those struggling financially. She is proud to one of the pioneers for the Foundation and was previous board chair.
Gena Anderson
Secretary
Gena has 3 years of experience working in credit unions and before that, 20 years of experience in the legal field. She has a passion for community engagement and serving the financially underserved in our community.
Tricia Jensen
Treasurer
Tricia brings over 21 years of experience in credit union accounting to the Foundation. She has served on and has been instrumental in raising funds for the United Way of Olmsted County and is passionate about helping our community.
Briana McDonald
Board Member
Briana joined the credit union world 3 years ago. Her love of being involved in the community and event planning background make her a perfect addition to the Foundation.