Alberta Central’s Community Goodwill Award – Applications are now closed.

Each year, Alberta Central presents the Performance Excellence Awards to celebrate the hard work and financial accomplishments of our credit unions. As part of this program, and now in its third year, the Community Goodwill Award celebrates a credit union supporting the community in a unique and impactful way. This award is about showcasing innovative community support programs that have a measurable impact of goodwill on credit union members and their communities.  

The Community Goodwill Award requires an application for consideration and any credit union in Alberta is eligible, with credit unions welcome to submit more than one initiative using multiple applications. Please note that the online application form below can only be completed all at once, we recommend drafting your responses in a separate document before entering. 

Applications are now closed, thanks to all who applied.

Grant Overview

Application Process + Timeline  

  • March 14th – applications opened
  • April 16th – applications closed
  • Once all applications have been received, the Alberta Central judges will review entries and select the winner. We expect to communicate the winner in the coming months, if you have questions, feel free to email communications@albertacentral.com.

What type of programs are eligible?  

Credit unions are asked to select a single community goodwill program or initiative per application. Any program that has a direct impact on members and the community and took place within the 2024 calendar year is eligible. Please include as much detail as possible in your application to be considered, such as the goal of the program, groups it impacted, examples of impact, etc. (as noted in the application form questions below). 

Some examples of eligible programs would include:  
  • A community clean-up volunteering activity.  
  • Serving food at a local fair or parade.  
  • Hosting a member-focused community carnival or event.  
  • Grant programs administered by the credit union that support local students, schools or clubs.  
  • Toy, clothing or food bank drives.  

Programs that are purely focused on supporting employees (e.g., an employee wellness program) are not eligible. The community at large and/or credit union members need to be directly impacted. If you need more information or have questions, contact engagement@albertacentral.com.  

Applications will be reviewed based on:  
  • Completeness of the application form;  
  • Details and examples provided of how the program was delivered and what the tangible/measurable impact was on the community (e.g., the number of donations collected, the total number of items of funds donated or number of people impacted, the number of charities or non-profits who benefitted and how they benefitted, etc.); and 
  • Any data or supporting documents to help us understand the program are welcome, including testimonials or quotes from community members or local groups/organizations and any tracking sheets or reports used to communicate on the success or outcome of the program. Feel free to share any images, marketing content, posters, videos, etc. to engagement@albertacentral.com  in advance of the deadline to be included in your application.

Application Questions 

  • Program Overview
    What unique or innovative community goodwill program did your credit union introduce in 2024? Please share the program’s name, how it was implemented, and the community members and/or organization(s) it aimed to support     (worth 10 points).
  • Community Giving Focus + Impact
    What forms of community giving were involved in this program (e.g., donations, sponsorships, volunteering) and what was its total impact? Please include details on why this focus area was selected, such as identified community need(s) and explain how the impact was measured or quantified (worth 10 points).
  • Innovation + Strategic Focus
    What new or innovative techniques or approaches were used to enhance the delivery or impact of this program? Please provide specific details on how creativity or innovation were used to solve a community issue as part of this program or how this initiative was different from others being offered or previously done. Please highlight how this program fits into your credit union’s vision or mission and/or broader corporate giving strategy (worth 20 points).
  • Program Results
    What was the main goal of your credit union’s community giving initiative and was this goal achieved? Please provide specific details on the results/impact of the program and how it effectively supported your existing members or community partners. Please provide specific details on the final results or achievements, whether the program will continue and any lessons learned or improvements planned for future years (if applicable). Testimonials or comments from participants/volunteers to highlight the programs impact can also be included (worth 20 points).