At WECU, serving our members and community goes beyond the walls of our branches. Many employees do so by serving on nonprofit boards—helping to guide strategy, shape programs, and ensure the future health of causes they care deeply about.
To honor and amplify that commitment, WECU created the Servant Leadership Grant program in 2019. Through this initiative, employees who serve in a board capacity can unlock up to $2,500 in funding for the nonprofit they represent. The grant is awarded in the name of the employee and WECU, symbolizing the shared commitment to strengthening the community.
One of WECU’s eleven Servant Leadership volunteers is Bo Stewart, a Senior Business Intelligence Developer at WECU, who serves on the board of the Pickford Theatre.
“I love film and especially independent or less commercial films,” said Stewart. “I believe a place like the Pickford is extremely important for the community. Since joining the board, it’s been a wild ride, culminating in the opening of a second location. It’s been one of the most rewarding times in my life, and I’ve been honored to serve.”
For staff already serving, the program is a simple way to multiply their impact. For those considering board service, it’s an open invitation to step into leadership and make a difference.
Tasha Mauler, WECU’s Manager of Board and Executive Services, is also a Servant Leadership volunteer with Placemake Arts Northwest, which works to advance the visual arts through community engagement, creative placemaking, and arts education across Whatcom County.
“My passion for Placemake Arts Northwest (PANW) stems from witnessing firsthand how art can transform not just physical spaces, but the relationships within them,” Said Mauler. “Over the past five years, art has become a part of my everyday life, and I’m proud to be a founding board member of a nonprofit that places creativity at the heart of my community.”
WECU continues to encourage employees to explore this opportunity. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the year, ensuring that nonprofit partners can put resources to work when they’re needed most.
By combining staff passion with financial support, the Servant Leadership Grant program reflects the best of WECU’s values: people helping people, leadership through service, and community at the heart of everything we do.
