The power of storytelling: sharing the impact of credit unions

Lauren Culp, executive director of the National Credit Union Foundation, joins Anthony Demangone on the latest podcast episode to talk about the power of storytelling and how credit unions can start sharing their stories today.

Why we need to tell the credit union difference

"If we don't tell our stories, nobody is going to tell them for us. If we don't advocate for the difference that we make, no one is going to realize that we're making such a difference," Culp shared.

Every credit union already has stories to tell. It's about making it easy for staff to share them. Once you have some of those stories gathered, the two parts to storytelling make it easier than many credit unions believe it is.

The first part is focused on people. Centering your impact around the people you help makes the story resonate and stick with people. That personal connection makes the impact felt by those unconnected.

The second part is the data. While this is where many credit unions feel the struggle, the concern, or claim they can't do storytelling, Culp offers the easy solution: connect with a system partner. There are so many places to turn to with talking points, data, and resources.

Tell your credit union story using resources like a Social Media Toolkit, fast facts, and the Credit Union Impact Dashboard at Don't Tax My Credit Union.

The future of the Foundation

The Foundation is focused on doubling down on mission and impact. Credit unions that support the Foundation and partner with it care about consumer financial well-being, which sets the credit union movement apart from other financial institutions. Culp shares the future of the Foundation as the connection point across the country for credit unions are doing similar work, and where credit unions can gain insights and ideas they would not have otherwise found.

Get inspired to tell your credit union's story from this year's Herb Wegner Award Winners.