WASHINGTON – The National Credit Union Foundation announced that almost $1 million dollars it distributed to 18 credit union and credit union industry groups will be able to leverage an additional $2.5 million in further grant support from other grant makers. “These funds will support innovative programs enabling credit unions to provide more underserved consumers with access to affordable financial services, financial education, and the opportunity to build assets,” explained NCUF Executive Director Steve Delfin. “In approving these grants, the Foundation's Board and Grants Committee focused on programs that extend credit unions' efforts to reach low-to-moderate-income populations in their communities.” NCUF received 54 grant proposals seeking $3 million in its most recent grant cycle. This record number of applications, seeking a record total of grant dollars, received the most rigorous and thorough grant evaluations ever conducted by NCUF. “These record grant dollars were made possible by nearly 600 credit unions who express their social responsibility by investing in CIF,” acknowledged Delfin.