Rally the movement: From crisis to opportunity, credit unions lead the way

When we launched the Rally the Movement Campaign in March, in partnership with World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), we knew the stakes were high. The sudden termination of USAID awards could have left thousands of credit union members in Ukraine, Guatemala and Kenya without access to affordable finance, savings or the chance to grow their businesses. Instead, thanks to the generosity of our Champions, we’ve turned this challenge into a moment of opportunity for the global credit union movement.

In just a few short months, Rally the Movement has helped credit unions deliver new tools, services, and hope across countries in three very different regions of the world—Ukraine, Guatemala, and Kenya. The impact is already visible.

In Ukraine, where credit unions and their members continue to face the harsh realities of war, Rally the Movement is fueling resilience. Since April, over $355,000 in loans have been disbursed to 137 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including those owned by farmers, women and veterans.

But numbers alone don’t tell the story. In Cherkasy Oblast, “Ros”, a small farming enterprise, used a Rally the Movement-backed loan to purchase essential fertilizers and plant protection products. For founder Yaroslav Koval, the impact is deeply personal.

“Thanks to the support and credit funds . . . we are moving forward with confidence,” said Koval.

The result? Thriving barley and wheat fields, plans for new equipment and the creation of jobs that will help sustain a community under siege.

In Guatemala, Rally the Movement is enabling cooperatives to return to their roots: bringing services directly to underserved communities. Two MiCoope system credit unions are now piloting rural outreach with trained financial advisors. For the first time, women in remote villages are accessing savings, credit, insurance, and payments without having to travel miles to a branch.

“This initiative brings us back to our cooperative roots. We are reaching those who need us most, those who have been left behind,” said Antonio Aldana, CEO of Micoope.

The program also integrates entrepreneurial and financial education, empowering families with not just financial tools but also the knowledge to use them effectively.

In Kenya, the campaign is helping savings and credit cooperative (SACCO) leaders see small and medium enterprises not as risky clients, but as engines of local growth. With Rally the Movement support, three SACCOs have already trained 30 staff on WOCCU’s SME Lending Toolkit Methodology.

At Boresha SACCO, one training sparked a breakthrough. Staff reevaluated a previously approved loan using a new underwriting tool and uncovered critical information gaps that could have potentially resulted in a lower interest rate or larger loan. That moment shifted their perspective from “SMEs are too risky” to “with the right tools, SMEs are our future.”

By July, Boresha had already disbursed its first SME loan under this new approach, setting clear KPIs to guide sustainable lending across its branches.

Since March, we have raised nearly $1.2 million for Rally the Movement. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our Champion organizations like GECU Credit Union, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, America First Credit Union—Utah, Iowa Credit Union League, TruStage Foundation, National Credit Union Federation of Korea, Patelco Credit Union, Mountain America Federal Credit Union, ORIGENCE, Indiana Credit Union League, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, African-American Credit Union Coalition, The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates and many more have stepped forward in bold ways to ensure that communities continue to thrive even when traditional funding disappears.

Your support has not only kept programs alive, but fueled innovation, inspired local leadership and reminded the world what “people helping people” truly means.

This is only the beginning. In the coming months, Rally the Movement will continue expanding lending in Ukraine, scaling rural outreach in Guatemala and helping SACCOs in Kenya unlock jobs and opportunities through SME finance.

Together, we are proving that credit unions don’t just survive in times of crisis, they lead. And with your continued partnership, we will keep rallying the movement to build a brighter, more inclusive financial future for all.