Collins Community Credit Union: “We Show Up”

A few weeks ago, I had the great honor to speak with Karen Ultis, the Community Outreach Director at Collins Community Credit Union. The passion and excitement she showed for her job was inspiring. She’s achieved so much in just under 3 years at this post.

When asked to sum up what Collins Community CU is all about, Karen started with, “People Helping People means, everyday we’re dedicated to serving our members, but we don’t stop there, we serve the community too.” When Karen Ultis was hired for the newly created Community Outreach Director position in 2013, she already had years of experience in the field of community outreach. While Collins Community Credit Union was already involved in their own community work, she was, “Determined to intensify participation within the community”.

Soon after she began working, she convinced the CEO and COO to take on the role of co-chairs for the 2014 March for Babies fundraising walk. This was a huge commitment and undertaking, especially when taking their busy schedules into account. A goal was set to raise at least $40,000 in new money for the charity. Just by fundraising across Collins Community CU’s 9 Iowa branches (at the time), they were able to raise over $20,000. The executive team was then able to raise the remaining money from external sources, all told coming in well above the goal. This is a small example of how seriously Collins Community CU takes outreach.

This is just one of twenty or so programs that Karen and I spoke about. With 6 individuals on the Marketing staff it’s amazing how much they can achieve. When asked, she explained that it’s a company wide effort. “With help from the employee based organization called the CAC, the Community Action Committee, we are able to tackle more and more projects”.

The CAC is an all employee volunteer organization that helps mobilize and spearhead various programs, including charitable giving and volunteer work.“From the CEO down, everyone has a role to play”, Karen stated.

She explained how actively engaging in volunteering and charity work in the local communities also benefits their members by creating a strong sense of pride and belonging.

“This in turn creates loyalty among members and encourages new individuals to join the Credit Union”. More members allows Collins Community CU to further their financial benefits and increase community involvement that creates, “a cycle of mutual benefit between our members and the community.”

Community doesn’t stop there. The March for Babies event is a part of the nationwide March of Dimes organization which supports and funds important research to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Some of that research is being done locally at the University of Iowa in Iowa City where they are developing tests and techniques to determine factors leading to premature birth and how to prevent it.

Along with contributing and partnering with the heavy hitters, such as March of Dimes, American Heart Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and more, Collins Community CU feels it’s important to stay connected with the smaller, locally based organizations, as well. The Cedar Rapids Boys and Girls Club is a favorite cause of many Credit Union employees, where they donate both time with the kids and money. As part of their ongoing partnership with the food reservoir at the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Collins Community CU employees often volunteer in the warehouse packing emergency food boxes. Every fall the Community Action Committee organizes a school supply drive collecting for foster children, who might otherwise go without these necessary supplies, especially if they move from family to family and school to school throughout the year.

Karen made it clear that most of the volunteering occurs after work hours during their free time, but that Collins Community CU is so committed to giving back that it’s not uncommon for managers to let their employees out during work hours for important causes. Collins Community CU also partners with two elementary schools teaching a specialized curriculum to 5th graders, increasing their overall financial literacy. The four week program is taught by four teams of Collins Community CU's employees and includes lessons on: the origin and history of money; where does money come from, how it’s made, spending vs. saving; and, how and why to budget. They also take part in the yearly Financial Literacy Fair at the Kirkwood Learning Center.

In Karen’s 3 years, Collins Community CU has grown from 9 to 14 branches across Iowa with plans to open 3 more locations. They currently serve over 60 thousand members. As Collins Community CU continues to expand their membership in new markets like Des Moines, Cedar Falls and Dubuque, their current model of community involvement and activism, will assist them in cultivating new and loyal members.

"Everything we’re doing now is creating success in our new markets,” says Karen.

She is adamant that, “Collins Community Credit Union wants to be at the forefront” of community outreach across credit unions, nationally. It’s clear from their robust and diverse range of charity and community outreach programs that they truly are an example of community outreach at its finest.

According to Karen, “being involved in community is what sets us apart. We don’t just throw money at a cause – we show up!”