TAPCO Credit Union Advancing Social Impact Banking Through National Support

TAPCO Credit Union is honored to receive new grant funding that will allow our team to bring financial education to more young people and strengthen the long-term financial well-being of the communities we serve. We are proud to be one of twenty four credit unions selected for the At‑Risk Youth Financial Well‑Being Grant, a national initiative designed to support programs that help youth build real-world financial skills and confidence.

What Social Impact Banking Looks Like at TAPCO Credit Union

A grant announcement can tell you what an organization received. The larger story begins when you look at what that investment makes possible for the communities it is meant to serve. The At‑Risk Youth Financial Well‑Being Grant is one of those moments for TAPCO. It gives our team room to expand financial education in ways that reach more young people, strengthen community partnerships, and build long-term confidence around financial decision-making.

Scaling a program is not only about reaching more participants. It is about shaping a community’s relationship with financial literacy over time. When young people learn how financial systems work, they carry that knowledge into adulthood. When families understand how to use financial tools, they can make choices that support stability. When educators and community partners have resources they can trust, they can bring financial learning into spaces where it has not always been accessible.

This is the broader impact of Social Impact Banking. It connects financial resources with education, participation, and relationships that help people understand how to use those resources in their own lives. It also reflects the work of the entire TAPCO team. Every workshop, conversation, and partnership is part of a larger effort to make financial well-being more approachable for the communities we serve.

Richard Stirgus, VP of Marketing and Community, shared a perspective that sits at the heart of this approach:

“When you look at just giving resources without knowledge behind it and participation, then it is just a resource.”

His point is simple. A financial tool becomes meaningful only when someone understands how to use it. That belief guides how TAPCO designs programs, how we collaborate with partners, and how we show up in community spaces.

Expanding this work means more than offering additional workshops. It means creating a network of experiences that build confidence over time. A student who learns the basics of saving today may be ready to explore credit in a few years. A family that understands how to manage expenses may later feel prepared to plan for a home. Scaling gives TAPCO the ability to meet people at different points in their financial journey and support them as their needs evolve.

It also strengthens the role of community partners. They know the people they serve and understand the questions that come up in real time. Their insight helps TAPCO shape experiences that are relevant, practical, and grounded in everyday life. Partnerships like the one with Tacoma Public Schools and Biz Kid$ show how financial learning can grow when students have opportunities to practice decision-making and connect concepts to real situations.

Social Impact Banking is not a single program. It is a collective effort across TAPCO. Our team listens to community partners, adapts resources, and creates experiences that feel welcoming and useful. We focus on conversations that begin with the person in front of us. We pay attention to the questions people ask and the moments when another explanation can make a concept click.

This is how financial literacy becomes something people can use. It is also how a grant becomes more than funding. It becomes an opportunity to deepen relationships, expand access, and build a foundation that supports long-term financial well-being.

Looking Ahead

The implications of this work reach far beyond the first lesson. When young people understand how financial systems function, they carry that knowledge into adulthood. When families feel confident making financial decisions, they strengthen their own stability and contribute to the resilience of the community around them.

The At‑Risk Youth Financial Well-Being Grant helps TAPCO continue building that future. It supports experiences that people can understand and use today and creates pathways that will matter five or ten years from now. It is one more step in putting Social Impact Banking into practice with the communities we serve.