We’re in the business of people helping people. We are committed to supporting the financial well-being of our members and communities through financial education, coaching and counseling programs and philanthropic funding. We're creating financially resilient communities and empowering underserved populations. Here's how.
Enabled Better Financial Health
Every year, we serve thousands of people through our financial health programs designed to boost savings and investments and increase financial confidence and capability. BECU’s financial health team delivers services over the phone, through video banking, as well as out in the community, at our Neighborhood Financial Centers and in classrooms throughout the year — virtually and in-person.
We served over 15,000 people through our Financial Health programs, including more than 5,000 BECU members and non-members who attended a seminar, webinar or Financial Reality Fair.
Financial Reality Fairs are immersive simulation experiences for teens. There, teens experience budgeting, saving and spending (and maybe even a bit of overspending) as if working with adult limitations and budgets.
But you don't have to be a student (or even a BECU member) to attend our free seminars and webinars, which cover topics ranging from budgeting to trust and estate planning.
TAKE ACTION: Get Money Smart(er). Watch a BECU webinar from home 24/7 or attend a free in-person seminar at one of our locations to learn about topics such as Understanding Credit Reports and Scores, Financing Your Home and Fraud Detection and Prevention.
Gamifying Finances with Zogo
Have you met Zogo? It's a fun app with online games members can use to learn more about money. Perhaps you're one of our 6,000 members who've completed 90,000+ learning modules.
The little app is proving to be a big success — 90% of survey respondents reported improved financial literacy. With quick, real-life lessons, you can learn about savings and spending, investing and retirement, taxes and more.
Best of all, app users are rewarded for their hard work.* Points earned can be exchanged for gift cards to favorite businesses including Amazon, Starbucks, Apple, Walmart and more.** Give Zogo a try.***
* Must be 18 or older to use app, earn points and redeem for rewards. Rewards are redeemable by Zogo. ** Rewards available to redeem in mobile app only. *** Airtime, roaming, data usage, and minutes of use may be billed by your mobile provider. Zogo Privacy and Terms of Use apply. BECU does not accept liability for Zogo or the information provided on the Zogo platform. Zogo is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized financial, tax, investment, or other professional advice.
Co-Created Resilient Communities
We show our commitment to financial well-being and equity through $9.2 million in funding and in-kind donations to community partners focused on:
Funded Philanthropy
Our nonprofit partners help our communities thrive today and in the future. Nonprofit organizations provide access to health and wealth by facilitating higher education, providing basic financial assistance and encouraging entrepreneurs to share their innovations with the world.
“I love the passion for helping individuals and organizations achieve financial well-being.”
Alexa T., BECU Member
Within the Financial Health category, our 2024 philanthropic funding targeted these key areas:
- Postsecondary Education and College Access
- Safe and Affordable Access to Financial Services
- Financial Education and Literacy
- Entrepreneur Access and Development
- Workforce Development
- Housing Stability and Homeownership
Our Work, Our Communities
We are enthusiastic about how and why we fund various projects in the communities BECU serves. Here are just a few of the standout successes.
Community Care
Founded by Seattle Seahawks football player Doug Baldwin Jr., the Family First Community Center in Renton opened its doors in 2024 and serves 160 visitors daily. Growing up in Pensacola, Florida, Doug loved hanging out at his local community center, which acted as a second home for kids in the community.
“When I got older, I realized how impactful that place was for me and how much kids need spaces like that.”
Doug Baldwin Jr.
Doug was inspired to create the Renton center after learning that the Seattle suburb lacked a gym and affordable health clinic. In addition, more than a third of all Renton residents lived in poverty, including a quarter of kids under 18.
Now, the facility is Washington’s first community center with an on-site health clinic with medical, dental and behavioral health services. BECU is proud to support the Family First Community Center with funding and other resources.
Market Wisdom
In Spokane, the Scale House Market at the Quarry is housed in a building that formerly measured truck loads. Opening in spring 2025, the market will offer a delicious oasis in an area designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a "food desert."
The market will provide a dedicated space for local farmers, small businesses and community members with a consistent space to sell their products. Shoppers can load up totes with farm-fresh produce at the year-round, indoor-outdoor market in Spokane's newest hub for food-centric learning and access. Classes and events in the center's learning kitchen will teach long-lost culinary skills still useful today.
With BECU’s multi-year sponsorship, the Spokane Conservation District broke ground on the market in fall 2024 with plans to open to the public in spring 2025. Scale House Market is expected to attract 249,000 visitors annually and support over 65 local farms and businesses. Our support will help fund programming, such as helping small business vendors test products, refine techniques and develop innovative business practices.
Bumping Up Biz Skills
In 2024, BECU sponsored the Success Foundation's first-ever Southside Leadership Conference at Highline College in Des Moines, Washington. At the conference, emerging professionals networked and attended sessions led by industry experts, gaining essential skills and strategic insights for success.
At the Foundation's Workforce Discovery Lab's five-day summer 2024 workshop, Highline and Tukwila students earned $500 in cash while they brushed up on professional skills and explored career pathways. Local businesses partnered to offer developmental opportunities, helping to bridge the education-workforce gap.
Food for Thought
BECU funded grads-to-be through the Tacoma Community College Foundation. The foundation has awarded almost 3,000 scholarships, helping students earn technical certificates or complete associate degrees. With these credentials, students advance professionally, succeed in a new career or pursue undergraduate studies at a college or university.
We fund this vital work in addition to the Max and Margi Harned Titan Food Pantry, which provides food and personal care items to alleviate student poverty.
Continued Our Community Equity Commitment
In 2024, BECU’s Black Community Development Project awarded $1 million to nonprofits, culminating a five-year, $5 million commitment to improving the overall financial health and well-being of the Black community.
Nonprofits supported through the Black Community Development Project are focused on improving the financial, emotional, physical and financial health and well-being of the Black community. While these organizations are led by and serve the Black community, the impact of their work is felt throughout the broader community.
The Black Community Development Project includes nonprofit capacity building grants that activate a nonprofit’s organization and leadership skills, resources and competencies. With this funding the organization’s next level of success becomes a little easier to achieve. This year, we awarded $150,000 to seven grassroots organizations nominated by BECU members through the People Helping People Awards process.
The 2024 recipients include:
Brothers United In Leadership Development (BUILD): A grassroots organization with the vision that Black men are empowered leaders and mentors who make positive changes in our community by instilling pride, hope and perseverance in Black men.
Community Carrot: Advancing social justice and racial equity by teaching young adult entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds how to start their own successful business.
KD Hall Foundation: Offering educational programs, mentorship and experiential learning opportunities to help young women build confidence in pursuing their desired careers.
Leaders in Women’s Health: A coalition of people working to eliminate health disparities, particularly related to BIPOC individuals. Funds were provided through the Tacoma Urban League.
Power of Two: Positively impacting youth and families affected by adversities by restoring hope and dignity; offering death and dying education to individuals, community associations, and medical organizations.
A Sacred Passing: Guiding and assisting people towards a more conscious dying experience while honoring individual autonomy.
Seattle Professionals of National Society of Black Engineers: Increasing the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.
“Thank you for believing in our mission and standing alongside us as we build a stronger, more equitable future. Together, we rise!”
BUILD, BECU Black Community Development Project Recipient
Celebrating Progress
Over the course of BECU’s commitment to this work, it’s been incredible to see these organizations grow their impact. Some of our multi-year partners through the Black Community Development Project include:
Black Future Co-op Fund: Since its founding in 2020, we have supported the Black Future Co-op Fund’s efforts to create a hub to eradicate poverty, support criminal justice reform, build generational wealth, preserve Black culture and celebrate the incredible resilience of Washington’s Black community.
Alliance for Education: We have a longstanding partnership with the Alliance for Education to support Seattle Public Schools in advancing educational justice and racial equity for students. The partnership also accelerates student achievement through the preparation, support and retention of exceptional teachers who reflect the school district’s rich diversity.
In 2024, we continued our partnership with BLAST Haus, providing funding for BLAST Academy, a one-day workforce development training program for youth looking to build their DJ skills. Over 140 youth participated in sessions throughout the year to gain an understanding of the engineering and capabilities required to become a DJ.
The partnership continued at BLASTFEST, an Afrobeats festival in Seattle that celebrates the rich culture and music of Africa. At the festival, BECU sponsored BLAST Mart to enable local Black-owned businesses to promote their products and services. On average, each of the nine participating businesses saw a 450% increase in sales at the one-day event.
In 2024, BECU partnered with the exciting global seed funder Bridge for Billions, which supports sustainable and inclusive economic development through local entrepreneurs.
With Bridge for Billions, we collaborated on the BECU Inclusive Entrepreneur Program. This four-month program was open to Black, Indigenous and People of Color entrepreneurs in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and South Carolina.
Twelve program participants received free mentoring, business tools and access to seed funding to launch or grow their businesses. Together, they worked on their business incubation platforms and attended weekly mentoring sessions, community networking events and targeted educational workshops.
As a final step, program participants pitched their business plans to a panel of BECU judges and Laura Clise, founder of the Intentionalist, at BECU's Tukwila Financial Center. Tara Dubois of Complete Driving Experience in Tacoma received the top prize of $7,500.
Celebrated Members and Nonprofits
Our People Helping People Awards program is a big deal every year. We rely on you, our members, to nominate nonprofits to be eligible for grant funds. Since its launch in 2013, BECU has donated more than $4.5 million to over 180 nonprofits.
In 2024, BECU's 11th annual ceremony honored 18 nonprofits and BECU members, granting $450,000 in total to nonprofits doing valuable work in our communities. Members are at the heart of this program through their nominations, and we look forward to your submissions this year.
We honored Ngozi Ezeokeke as Member Volunteer of the Year for her service with AVELA - A Vision for Engineering Literacy and Access. Ngozi has been a dedicated AVELA volunteer since 2019.
AVELA is a near-peer mentorship program at the University of Washington that connects graduate and undergraduate students. Together, they create workshops and curriculum for elementary, middle and high school students to pursue their interests in STEM.
Members create and lead workshops, camps, panels and other community outreach at regional middle schools, high schools, community colleges and more.
Before entering a classroom, AVELA members meet with local schools to discover which STEM concepts students are excited about. They then create project lesson plans tailored to the students' interests while covering Washington State’s Common Core Standards academic concepts.
Ngozi’s impact on AVELA has been tremendous from helping the organization streamline their processes to writing grants to bring in additional funding and serving as a mentor to first generation students.
Other 2024 People Helping People Award grantees include:
Community popular vote selected Wild Grief. This organization provides free, guided programs in nature to grieving youth, families and people of all ages, combining peer-based grief support with the healing power of nature.
BECU employees chose Juma Ventures by popular vote. This nonprofit strives to break the cycle of poverty by paving the way for youth work, education and financial capability.
Past People Helping People Award recipients voted to honor Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center. This organization provides safety, justice and healing to victims of child abuse.
Supported Funding
BECU provides financial and other support to the BECU Foundation, an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. The BECU Foundation funds grants and scholarships and invests in secondary education, housing stability and green equity initiatives.
School Smart
In support of our credit union philosophy of "people helping people," we also extend that help to our college-age members.
Since 1995, the BECU Foundation has awarded $4.9 million in scholarships to over 1,650 BECU members enrolled as students. Scholarships are awarded to students who promote community service, leadership and academic potential.
TAKE ACTION: If you'd like to help fund tomorrow's scholars, learn more about making a tax-deductible donation.
In 2024, the BECU Foundation continued its partnership with the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) to encourage students along the graduation path. The partnership has reached an incredible milestone — investing a total of $1.2 million in student scholarships. Over the last six years, these funds have been matched with state funding, which has enabled $2.3 million to be awarded to more than 150 Opportunity Scholars.
In addition to financial aid, BECU offers mentorship opportunities and career training to holistically support Opportunity Scholars as they build their pathway to a career. WSOS supports Washington students in high-demand trade, health care and STEM occupations with two scholarship options:
Baccalaureate Scholarships
For those pursuing a bachelor’s degree, the BECU Foundation supported six scholarships. The scholarship ensures that a student can continue to receive funding of up to $22,500 annually in financial aid support, which can be used at any eligible Washington college or university. Baccalaureate Scholarships run from freshman year through the fifth year or graduation from college, whichever is sooner.
Career and Technical Scholarships
The BECU Foundation supported 11 of these scholarships, providing up to $10,000 annually for the duration of an associate degree, certificate or apprenticeship program at any of Washington state’s 35 community and technical colleges. Scholars can qualify for Career and Technical Scholarships for four years or program completion, whichever is sooner.
Helped with Homes
To help combat hardships contributing to homelessness, we continued our partnership with the eight local nonprofits who received Housing Stability Grants in 2023. Nonprofits direct funds toward preventing eviction and housing loss by assisting with home repairs, providing housing counseling, offering landlord-tenant mediation and other services.
These organizations include Multi-Service Center, Rebuilding Together South Sound, Solid Ground, El Centro de la Raza, SNAP Financial Access, King County Bar Association, Byrd Barr Place and Northwest Justice Project.
El Centro de la Raza
As a voice and a hub for the Seattle and Federal Way's Latino/a community, El Centro de la Raza breaks new ground — in multiple, remarkable ways.
The organization operates affordable housing developments in Beacon Hill, including the sleek, welcoming new Four Amigos development in Columbia City. This building complex features 87 one- to three-bedroom apartments, a child development center and a community church. The organization will break ground on new developments in Beacon Hill in 2025 and Mt. Baker in 2026.
The new development offers 43 programs and services, including financial empowerment through a first-time home-buying program, homelessness prevention, rental counseling and foreclosure prevention.
SNAP Financial Access
SNAP Financial Access is as an organization that "sees opportunity where others do not." The Spokane-based nonprofit has served almost 1,000 clients in reaching for and achieving financial stability and success.
Families and individuals can access a wide range of housing aid, including home-buying counseling, first-home down payment assistance, home repair programs and home foreclosure prevention programs, including mortgage payment assistance.
BECU has helped sustain SNAP’s counseling programs, and the organization also collaborates with many of our other Spokane partners.
Generated Sustainable Support
We continued our partnership with seven local nonprofits to sustain their efforts in renewable energy, circular innovation and green workforce development through our Green Equity Initiative Grants.
Grant recipients included Refugee Artisan Initiative, Seattle Good Business Network, Zero Waste Washington, Olympia Community Solar, Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Emerald Cities Collaborative and ecoTHRIVE Housing.
Four additional organizations who applied to the program also received donations including Washington Wild, Mi Centro, The BE Project and Our Climate.
The community land trust ecoTHRIVE Housing is developing an innovative pilot project opening in 2025. The village includes 27 beautiful ecoCottages in Burien, Washington that residents co-own through a cooperative as an alternative to renting.
These climate-adaptive, low-carbon use homes are integrated into single-family neighborhoods, offering "gentle density." The cottages also provide a path to ownership and an alternative to renting.
Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is expanding its E-Contractor Academy, a seven-week training program for underrepresented contractors to expand their businesses through clean energy projects. As demand grows for decarbonation, the goal is to develop a deep pool of skillful contractors who can compete, lead and succeed in the green infrastructure sector.
The expansion will include the development of an E-Contractor Network, which will add ongoing support, small business grants, industry and topic-specific workshops. This will also allow those who cannot attend an E-Contractor Academy the opportunity to benefit from the support, training and connections that ECC can offer.
Engaged the Credit Union Community
At BECU, we're deeply rooted in the credit union movement and the cooperative, member-centric approach to business. And in true cooperative spirit, credit unions often come together to support one another and educate consumers on the benefits of belonging to a credit union.
BECU supports local and national credit union trade associations and foundations in a variety of ways, including memberships, board roles, leading and participating in educational programs, fundraising, providing grants and more.
Here are a few highlights of our giving in the credit union community:
National Credit Union Foundation
BECU provided an annual donation to support credit union development initiatives at the National Credit Union Foundation. In 2024, in response to hurricane relief efforts, we also donated to support the CUAid Fund. This fund helps credit union employees and volunteers rebuild after natural disasters strike, so they can better serve members who are also struggling.
Cooperative Trust
We supported Cooperative Trust’s Crasher program at the Government Affairs Conference through Filene. The program connects young and emerging credit union talent with industry leadership at the conference, an annual gathering of credit unions in Washington, D.C. These young leaders demonstrate exceptional dedication to the credit union movement and the program deepens their commitment to the credit union mission.
GoWest Foundation
The GoWest Foundation works with credit unions and community partners to provide solutions for the financial health of the people and communities served in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. To further these efforts, we support credit union projects on various initiatives, including:
- Financial reality fair kits to promote youth financial capability
- Workforce housing grants
- Professional development opportunities for a strong bench of credit union leadership
“It’s always inspiring to see the positive impact credit unions like BECU have on their communities — an important reflection of the cooperative spirit we champion at GoWest.”
Nayab A., GoWest Credit Union Association
Supporting Equity through Credit Union Partnerships
African-American Credit Union Coalition
For the last four years, BECU has partnered with the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), supporting their efforts to strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion in the credit union industry with a focus on Black-identifying individuals. In addition to providing funding, BECU employees participate in AACUC programming and have helped develop a model for large credit unions to reach and partner with diverse communities.
National Association of Latino Credit Unions & Professionals
In 2024, BECU entered a five-year partnership with the National Association of Latino Credit Unions & Professionals, dedicated to providing financial education and services for the Hispanic/Latino community. The organization also focuses on increasing economic, asset-building and professional development opportunities, including honoring a Latinx Credit Union Professional of the Month.
Our support includes funding, as well as offering BECU employees to speak as part of NLCUP’s monthly webinar series. A delegation of 12 BECU employees also attended the organization’s annual conference.
“The passion and dedication shared by everyone at the conference were truly inspiring, as we came together with a common goal: to make a meaningful difference through purpose-driven work."
Siena P., BECU Employee
CU Pride
BECU is proud to have become the first credit union noted as CU Pride’s "Pioneer Ally." We committed to five years of annual donations to CU Pride, the association dedicated to promoting LGBTQ+ credit union professionals, members and allies while providing opportunities for education, engagement, sharing and celebration.
Beyond funding, we offer speakers for numerous events throughout the year — including CU Pride’s annual conference and their Allies into Action webinar series.
In 2024, we worked with CU Pride to develop the first ERG Xchange for employee resource groups for three large credit unions, including BECU. The event's education, networking and collaborative conversations were wildly successful. In the future, CU Pride plans to expand this event and programming to all CU Pride member organizations' employee resource groups.
Supporting the Broader Cooperative Movement
In addition to engaging fellow credit unions, BECU also supports efforts to connect cooperatives more broadly across various industries. This support includes membership and board service with the following organizations:
National Cooperative Business Association
The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) works to build a better world and a more inclusive economy that empowers people to contribute to shared prosperity and well-being for themselves and future generations. By leveraging the shared resources of the cooperative movement, NCBA seeks to engage, partner with and empower people from all walks of life — particularly those left behind by a shifting economy and facing the greatest economic and societal barriers.
Northwest Cooperative Development Center
The Northwest Cooperative Development Center (NWCDC) is dedicated to assisting new and existing cooperative businesses in every sector across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. NWCDC has a special focus on Resident Owned Communities, home care agencies, and worker-owned or community-owned cooperatives.
Generated Green Goals
As BECU works to become a more environmentally sustainable organization, we also look for opportunities to engage our members and partners in this work. Through these efforts we support organizations and events that aim to restore and care for green spaces and inspire collective efforts to help better our planet.
Beyond our Green Equity Initiative Grants through the BECU Foundation, we also support broader community efforts focused on environmental restoration and management. In 2024, BECU donated $7,000 to two environmental nonprofits in Washington state, including Great Peninsula Conservancy in Bremerton, Washington and Environmental Science Center in Burien, Washington.
BECU sponsored GetGreen’s Go Green or Go Home at the University of Washington to reduce waste and energy consumption. This campus-wide sustainability contest ran from October 14 through December 6, 2024. Students, faculty and staff used the GetGreen app to take simple, daily eco-tasks and winners claimed gift cards, including two college favorites — the carbon-free Taco Time restaurants and Crossroads recycled clothing stores.
In 2024, our twice-yearly BECU shredding events kept over 200,000 pounds of paper, 51,300 pounds of electronics,14,000 household items and more out of the waste stream. As part of these events, members also provided cash and non-perishable food donations to local food banks in five Washington cities.
“Your team in Federal Way rocked it!”
Dawn L., BECU Member
In Western Washington, members dropped off clothing and small household items for Northwest Center, which provides direct support, early learning, employment and training services for people with disabilities and their families.
Bike Works — a nonprofit helping to provide bikes to adults and children in need — accepted donations of over 150 bikes at our Tukwila location.
Members brought curious questions and driving chops to our Electric Vehicle Test Drive Event. We partnered with the Washington State Auto Dealers Association and local franchised dealerships to test drive and learn more about electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid models.
Continue to the next section:
Read other sections of our 2024 Annual Report: