“Whether it be by their philanthropic efforts or day-to-day operations, credit unions are improving the financial well-being of their members every day,” Hyland said.

The $1.7 billion GTE Financial in Tampa, Fla., plans to wrap up 2014 with a charitable bang.

“We definitely expect to end 2014 meeting or exceeding last year's contributions,” Joe Brancucci, president/CEO of GTE Financial, said.

The credit union has already raised more than $150,000 this year and its big annual fundraiser is in full swing, he added. GTE Financial hopes to top last year's $320,000 contribution of in-kind and monetary donations, he said.

“Our credit union approaches charitable giving fluidly, so we don't limit our ability to give with a set budget for annual contributions at an enterprise level,” Brancucci said. “This flexible philosophy allows us to give as we grow and as compelling initiatives arise.”

“We have the unique ability and belief that when we grow, our obligation and privilege is to do more and return more,” he continued. “For this reason, our goal is to always surpass our efforts of the year before so we can benefit more people.”

Philanthropy benefits communities and credit unions, said Brancucci, who was CU Times' 2013 Trailblazer CEO of the Year.

“What the GTE Financial brand stands for is important,” he added. “Being recognized as a philanthropic leader in the communities we serve and knowing we make a difference in the lives of others is the biggest benefit of all. Our charitable involvements encourage others to get involved, amplifying our efforts and positive impact. That's a powerful thing.”

Read more: Six-figure donation from Hanscom …

The $1 billion Hanscom Federal Credit Union also hit a charitable grand slam this year.

“We have definitely increased our charitable giving this year,” Patricia Warden-Conty, marketing communications manager at the cooperative headquartered at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.

Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation donated $100,000 to support Run to Home Base, a fundraising campaign that benefits the Home Base Program, a collaborative effort of the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital, Warden-Conty said. Credit union officials are shown above presenting a check for the large amount.

The program has helped more 1,000 veterans and their families to cope with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.

As part of the partnership, Hanscom FCU will be among the sponsors at the 2015 Run to Home Base, a fundraiser at Boston's Fenway Park. The credit union was also one of the sponsors of Home Base Program's Mission Gratitude, a Nov. 10 fundraiser in Boston that featured musician and actor Harry Connick, Jr.

“This is an amazing, exciting addition to the group of organizations that Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation is proud to call partners and friends,” Alan Hart, chair of Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation, said.

The $2 billion Summit Credit Union in Madison, Wis., said it increased charitable giving by 13% between 2013 and 2014.

“The increase was to support new communities we are serving,” Joanne Belanger, vice president of PR and digital marketing for Summit, said.

One of the credit union's main priorities is the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County's STAR or Saving to Achieve Results Credit Union. Summit President/CEO Kim Sponem, a 2014 CU Times Women to Watch honoree, co-founded the youth-chartered credit union.

As part of its human resources policy, Summit pays all full-time employees eight hours of volunteer time annually to volunteer with a local charity of their choice, Belanger said.

“We try to pair our financial giving with other involvement, such as volunteer opportunities for our employees or providing financial education to the clients of the non-profit organizations,” she explained.

Read more: Xceed doubles up …

The $810 million Xceed Financial plans to donate about twice as much this year to its charity of choice – Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, according to Teresa Freeborn, president/CEO of the credit union in El Segundo, Calif. Freeborn is shown at left participating in a charity race event.

“Giving back to our community is a priority that ties into our core mission here at Xceed and we're delighted to be on track to raise more than $50,000 in donations this year,” Freeborn said.

Last year, the credit union raised about $27,000 for CMN, she added.

“This year, we focused on more high-impact, but less time-intensive activities, tying some of them into our big 50th anniversary celebration events,” Freeborn said.

Last year's activities included hosting a “Happy Hour for a Cause” and “Lunch for a Cause” for Xceed Financial's members and the community in El Segundo, she noted.

In 2013, Xceed Financial's total corporate giving was $71,735 and the credit union seems to be on track to donate about the same amount this year, Freeborn said. Total corporate giving from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 2013 was $59,135 and for the same time period this year, the total decreased 3.47% to $57,083.

“We also make room in our charitable giving budget each year to support organizations and initiatives that are important to our industry,” Freeborn said.

For example, Xceed Financial said it makes annual contributions to the Richard Myles Johnson Foundation, the National Credit Union Foundation, The Shapiro Group, and Credit Union House, as well as the World Council of Credit Unions and its Global Women's Leadership Network.

“It's just the right thing to do, but it's also a smart investment in the credit union movement and we feel strongly that every credit union should do the same,” Freeborn said. “Giving back to our community is a priority that ties into our core mission here at Xceed.”