About WF

 

Who We Are

Worldwide Foundation of Credit Unions is both the international development and charitable arm of the World Council of Credit Unions, whose 89-country membership is made up of 34 national associations, three regional associations and six credit owned businesses. Our mission is to improve lives and communities through credit unions.

 

Our Vision

To improve lives through credit unions.

Our Mission

To support international credit unions in their growth and during times of crisis.

Resources

We take transparency seriously.

Please click on the resources below to see our impact the past year: 

2021 990
2020 Annual Report
2020 990
2019 Annual Report


 

Our Board of Directors

The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Union's Board of Director's is an eight-member governing body, composed of credit union industry leaders that are committed to the Foundation's role as World Council's fundraising resource.



Chair

Bill Cheney

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Secretary

Susan Mitchell

Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates

Treasurer

Dallas Bergl

Inova Federal Credit Union / Credit Union National Association (CUNA)

Director

Brian Caldarelli

PSCU

Director

Manfred Alfonso Dasenbrock

Confederação Interestadual das Cooperativas Ligadas ao SICREDI (SICREDI)

Director

Crystal Long

GECU Credit Union

Director

Dwayne Naylor

Civic Federal Credit Union

Director

Renée Sattiewhite

African-American Credit Union Coalition

Director

Steven Stapp

Unitus Community Credit Union / Credit Union National Association (CUNA)

Director

Joe Thomas

NextMark Credit Union

 

Meet the WF Team

The Foundation's staff is composed of over three decades of experience in the credit union industry and financial inclusion sector, striving to improve lives through the cooperative model. 

PRESIDENT/CEO

Elissa McCarter LaBorde

Elissa McCarter LaBorde began serving as World Council of Credit Unions’ President and CEO in August 2021, bringing more than 20 years of experience leading organizations in delivering financial services to underserved communities across the globe.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mike Reuter

Mike leads the strategic vision for the Worldwide Foundation, focusing on maximizing revenue opportunities, streamlining operations and engaging new audiences to help expand credit unions and transform member lives.

WORLDWIDE FOUNDATION ASSOCIATE

Lisa Person

Lisa has been in the financial industry for over 18 years and has served on several non-profit boards. Her passion to help others through financial inclusion has been enhanced through WOCCU and our development work.

Global Women's Leadership Network Director

Eleni Giakoumopoulos

Giakoumopoulos has over 25 years of international experience working in 20 countries in western, central and eastern Europe. Her background includes managing European Union cross-border cooperation programs through consultancy work, membership recruitment for a national trade association, content development for print and digital media and directing career services at the American College of Thessaloniki, an educational organization in Northern Greece. 

WYCUP Director

Thomas Belekevich

Thomas Belekevich has collaborated with World Council (WOCCU) since 2004 and currently serves as Director of WOCCU's Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) program and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean. He is a polyglot – speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and English – and has worked in international and cross-cultural environments for more than 25 years.