We feel responsible for the wellbeing of the place we call home and the people we live next to.
To us, your wellbeing goes beyond physical, mental or financial factors. It's about OUR wellbeing, together, as Albertans.
Supporting our local community is important because, as Albertans, we’re all a part of something greater than ourselves. Our community gives us a deeper sense of belonging.
Community Wealth Building
Cindy Nguyen, Community Investment Specialist at connectFirst Credit Union sits down with Philip Lozano from Be Local YYC and Sydney Harder from the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship to find out more about what community wealth building means to them.
Elders Knowledge Circle
The Elders Knowledge Circle plays an important role in preserving, protecting, revitalizing, and sharing wisdom from Indigenous Elders in Calgary and the surrounding area. We are honored to be part of the group's Circle of Supporters and will continually strive to contribute to and walk on the path of Truth and Reconciliation.
Centre for Sexuality
connectFirst was thrilled to sponsor the 2024 Centre for Sexuality’s annual Pride Brunch in support of Camp FYrefly!
Learn & Earn
The connectFirst Learn & Earn Scholarship offers twelve lucky Grade 12 students a chance to level up their financial literacy with the help of a dedicated mentor—and earn up to $2,520 in matched savings for post-secondary!
We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with one of our amazing scholarship winners, Daniel Choi, to hear about his experience with the program and his plans for the future.
NeighbourGood
Our NeighbourGood grant program is making a difference in the communities where we live, work, and play!
Check out these snapshots to see how our branches have supported their communities this year!
4-H Clubs
At connectFirst, we're proud to support 4-H clubs and shows across Alberta!
4-H gives young people hands-on experiences in agriculture and animal care, teaching them life-long skills like leadership, responsibility, stewardship, and sustainable farming practices.
Community Wealth Building
Cindy Nguyen, Community Investment Specialist at connectFirst Credit Union sits down with Philip Lozano from Be Local YYC and Sydney Harder from the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship to find out more about what community wealth building means to them.
Elders Knowledge Circle
The Elders Knowledge Circle plays an important role in preserving, protecting, revitalizing, and sharing wisdom from Indigenous Elders in Calgary and the surrounding area. We are honored to be part of the group's Circle of Supporters and will continually strive to contribute to and walk on the path of Truth and Reconciliation.
Centre for Sexuality
connectFirst was thrilled to sponsor the 2024 Centre for Sexuality’s annual Pride Brunch in support of Camp FYrefly!
Learn & Earn
The connectFirst Learn & Earn Scholarship offers twelve lucky Grade 12 students a chance to level up their financial literacy with the help of a dedicated mentor—and earn up to $2,520 in matched savings for post-secondary!
We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with one of our amazing scholarship winners, Daniel Choi, to hear about his experience with the program and his plans for the future.
NeighbourGood
Our NeighbourGood grant program is making a difference in the communities where we live, work, and play!
Check out these snapshots to see how our branches have supported their communities this year!
4-H Clubs
At connectFirst, we're proud to support 4-H clubs and shows across Alberta!
4-H gives young people hands-on experiences in agriculture and animal care, teaching them life-long skills like leadership, responsibility, stewardship, and sustainable farming practices.
Looking for funding?
Investing in our community is an investment in ourselves.
Why? Because we’re your neighbours, our kids go to the same school, we sit alongside you on the bleachers. We share a community - let’s build on the things that make it great.
2023 was a year full of vibrant community collaborations as we all came together to build a brighter future for all.
Matched savings program.
Learn and Earn Scholarship
Applications closed January 05, 2024
connectFirst Credit Union, in partnership with community partners, has developed the Learn and Earn Scholarship Program.
Based on learning from the "Matched Savings Program Toolkit" provided by Credit Union Central of Canada, the goal was to establish a consistent approach to scholarships by developing a matched savings initiative designed as a financial education program to help youth save towards education or job training, and develop financial and savings skills.
Overview:
This 8-month matched savings program helps grade 12 students learn how to save, plan for their future career, and get enrolled in post-secondary education or trades programs. A total of 12 scholarships will be given out every year.
- Students can earn $4 for every $1 saved, up to a total of $78 a month or $2,520
Financial aid for Alberta trades programs.
STEM Scholarship
Applications closed August 19, 2024
Helping students get off on the right foot is just one part of how we do business. At connectFirst, we’re banking on a brighter future and investing in our communities and Albertans to build a more prosperous province for all. The purpose of the STEM Scholarship is to help provide financial aid for students enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math field (STEM), and skilled trades programs in Alberta.
Overview:
The STEM Scholarship program is for students enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math field or a skilled trades program in Alberta. A total of four (4) scholarships worth $650 each will be awarded.
- Must reside in Alberta and be age 17+
- Must be a current member of connectFirst Credit Union
- Must be enrolled or accepted to enroll in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math field or a skilled trades program in Alberta
- Must be a full-time student enrolled or accepted to enroll in an undergraduate or technical program in the academic year of 2024-2025
Sponsorships and donations.
Neighbourgood Grants
Applications closed. Visit us again in 2025 as we'll share dates once available.
Our NeighbourGood grant program is designed to support the communities we live, work, and play in.
Each of our branches across Alberta have local budgets to provide sponsorships or donations between $100 and $2000 to support local non-profits, charities, societies, cooperatives or social-enterprises.
Whether it is a new community program or public event, our teams want to hear about it!
See below to review eligibility and to apply for a NeighbourGood grant today.
What types of applications are NOT eligible?
- Advertising
- Programs with a specific religious focus
- Political organizations (as per the Political Relationships and Activities Policy, G10)
- Professional sports teams
- Individual sports teams
- National initiatives
- Individuals or private businesses
What types of expenses are ineligible?
- Deficit or debt reduction
- Retroactive expenses
connectFirst acknowledges that we operate throughout Treaty 6 and Treaty 7 territories.
Treaty 7 territory which is the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikuni, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Stoney Nakoda First Nations, including Chiniki, Bearpaw and Wesley First Nation. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. Treaty 6 territory is the traditional territories of the Cree, Saulteaux, Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, and Nakota Sioux Peoples. connectFirst is dedicated to ensuring the spirit of these treaties is honored and respected.
Who we're sponsoring:
- Calgary Chamber of Commerce
- Calgary Economic Development
- Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF)
- Calgary Real Estate Forum
- Centre for Sexuality
- Community 4-H Sales and Shows
- Elders Story Project
- Foothills Forage and Grazing Association
- Heart of the Horse
- Hull Services Stampede Breakfast
- Local Investing YYC
- Momentum – Be Local YYC and Aspire Calgary
- Mount Royal University
- Okotoks Dawgs
- Red Deer Chamber of Commerce
- Sled Island
- Southern Alberta Co-operative Housing Association (SACHA)
- Strathmore Cowboy Town Concert
- Strathmore Stampede
- Summer Synergy Youth Livestock Show
- Top 40 Under 40
- United Way
- YMCA/YMAP