Vermont non-profits are invited to apply for funds now through November 24 

MONTPELIER, VT – VSECU is announcing the annual launch of We Care 2, a member-directed giving program that distributes $50,000 to Vermont non-profit organizations.

Now through November 24, VSECU is accepting applications from Vermont-based non-profit organizations that make a positive and direct impact on issues of food, shelter, heat, financial education, or the environment. We Care 2 funds are distributed based on the percentage of votes received from VSECU members in the credit union’s Annual Elections. Through this process, each member’s vote becomes a donation to their preferred non-profit.

“We look forward to the launch of We Care 2 every year,” said Simeon Chapin, community impact officer at VSECU. “Vermont’s non-profit organizations help hold our communities together and that is especially needed right now. We are proud to support their critical work while also empowering and engaging our members in the act of charitable giving. It’s always great to see We Care 2 bring us together and help strengthen our communities.”

Five finalists will be selected by the We Care 2 Selection Committee and announced by early February for inclusion on the 2022 VSECU Annual Elections ballot. Organizations who have been awarded We Care 2 funds in the past three years will not be selected as finalists for this year’s program.

Past recipients include the Clarina Howard Nichols Center, Greater Bennington Interfaith Services, North Central Vermont Recovery Center, ReSOURCE, and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Vermont.

Becky Gonyea, executive director of Clarina Howard Nichols Center, said, “As a small non-profit that relies heavily on grant funding, the We Care 2 program provided flexible funding to fill in the gaps and meet emergency needs. This funding supported the operation of our shelter, and the emergency needs of survivors in our shelter, including medical prescriptions, moving expenses, auto insurance, and transportation costs. It was critical that our shelter continued to operate during the pandemic, and the We Care 2 program funding helped to ensure that our doors stayed open.”

About VSECU

VSECU is a member-owned cooperative and not for profit credit union for everybody who lives or works in Vermont, offering a full range of affordable financial products and services to its member-owners. VSECU is committed to improving the lives of Vermonters by empowering possibilities for greater social, environmental, and financial prosperity. For more information about VSECU, call 802/800 371-5162 or visit www.vsecu.com.