Make a meaningful impact at your credit union, for your members, and within your community. Participate in the CU Imagine contest for a chance to win $5,000 to put your idea into action!
Submit ApplicationThe ICU Foundation is again offering a $5,000 prize to the credit union who presents a unique idea for making a meaningful impact on credit unions, credit union members, credit union employees, and/or their communities incorporating findings from the ICUF Multicultural Opportunity Report (MOR) or the most recently published ALICE Report for Illinois from the United Way (ALICE).
Who: Illinois Credit Unions
What: Your unique idea for making a meaningful impact on credit unions, credit union members, credit union employees, and/or their communities. Your idea should:
Focus on building stronger communities and changing peoples' lives for the better through credit unions.
Incorporate information, learnings, and statistics from the MOR or the most recently published ALICE.
Explain how your organization would use the findings from the MOR or ALICE, along with the $5,000, to improve the financial health and well-being of your employees, members, and/or community.
How: Submit a contest entry form by Friday, September 5, 2025 at 5:00 pm central time
What Happens Next?
Up to four (4) First Round winners will be selected and notified on or before Friday, September 19, 2025, and invited to present the idea LIVE on the main stage at the ICUL (Illinois Credit Union League) Annual Convention on Thursday, October 23, 2025, where a panel of esteemed judges and the live audience will select the contest winner.
Contest Dates
Contest Opens – June 2, 2025
First Round Application – September 5, 2025
Final Round Selection – September 19, 2025
Live Contest Presentation – October 23, 2025
Official CU Imagine Contest Rules contain details about how the contest is structured as well as information about all aspects of the contest.
CU Imagine Contest 2025 Official RulesHere is a list of the questions from the Contest Entry Form. Use this as a guide to prepare your idea submission.
View or DownloadClick on the link below to access the Multicultural Opportunity Report, Webinar Recordings, and other resources.
More InformationBy the United Way of Illinois
ViewUnited For ALICE is a driver of innovation, research, and action to improve life across the country for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and for all.
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