Credit Union House is a permanent presence for credit unions on Capitol Hill. It serves as both a welcoming embassy for credit union visitors in Washington DC and a grassroots advocacy tool.
Credit Union House is a permanent presence for credit unions on Capitol Hill. It serves as both a welcoming embassy for credit union visitors in Washington DC and a grassroots advocacy tool.
The vision for Credit Union House came out of a major legislative battle in 1998 and a resolution to increase credit unions’ political involvement and advocacy efforts at the national level. Credit unions wanted to send a message to members of Congress, other industries and their own members that credit unions are a key player in the political scene. Credit Union House provides both a physical presence that sends a message of permanency as well as a home away from home for credit union advocates who come to DC to share their message.
Like credit unions, Credit Union House is owned by its members. The LLC Membership is made up of each statewide credit union trade association and the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL). In order to build Credit Union House, each state trade association made an investment. Through their affiliation with state leagues, credit unions enjoy membership benefits of Credit Union House.
As a permanent staging area and coordination point just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, Credit Union House provides meeting space for credit union officials, leagues and America’s Credit Unions to discuss strategies, plan Congressional meetings and debrief after visits with lawmakers. Credit union leaders from each state and several countries have visited Credit Union House.
Credit Union House also provides elegant event space for receptions, dinners and political fundraisers. Since opening in 2001, Credit Union House has welcomed hundreds of members of Congress to events. Each year, Credit Union House is becoming the event venue of choice for more and more political candidates, members of Congress and individual credit unions.
Credit Union House is always available to credit union leagues and league-affiliated credit unions. It is often made available to organizations that partner with credit unions on other issues as well as nonprofit or community organizations.
Priority booking for the following calendar year begins in the third quarter of the current year. After each priority member is given the opportunity to book events, credit unions and other system partners may begin to book their events. We discourage non-system groups from booking events more than six months in advance.
Space at Credit Union House is available at a discount for credit unions and other system groups. Other organizations that rent Credit Union House pay highly competitive rates depending on the event space.
Sustained annual giving from credit unions provides the funding for ongoing, daily operations. While initial investments from AACUL and the leagues provided funding for the land and construction of the facility, ongoing operational expenses—including ever-increasing property taxes and the costs associated with maintaining a top-notch events facility—are funded through contributions. Each state has an annual contribution goal, and reaching this goal will ensure Credit Union House is fully sustained through credit union contributions.
Just as with cooperatives, the more members involved with Credit Union House, the stronger it becomes. Right now, only a small percentage of credit unions provide a majority of the sustained annual giving. Your involvement will help spread this financial responsibility more evenly and will help your state reach its annual fundraising goal.
There are a number of ways you can support Credit Union House:
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