Exporting advocacy to Ukraine

In the U.S., our advocacy goal is to improve the operating environment for credit unions through the removal of regulatory barriers and the enhancement of credit union powers.

We pursue this goal knowing we must also preserve our favorable tax treatment, which has a multiplier effect on the impact of the credit union difference.

But our struggle is not unique: Everywhere a credit union system has developed, organizers have had to fight politically to establish and maintain it.

That’s because the development of a credit union system is inherently disruptive to for-profit financial institutions such as commercial banks.

Through this work, credit unions in many jurisdictions have faced a variety of challenges and many voices that limit or discourage consumer access to cooperative credit, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Credit unions in Ukraine face this struggle today. With the support of the World Council of Credit Unions’ Credit for Agricultural Producers (CAP) project—funded by USAID and implemented in partnership with the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance—Ukrainian credit unions have engaged their government on several key advocacy priorities.

These include the pursuit of a tax-exempt status, expanded service menu options, the ability to issue electronic money, and the power to serve “legal persons”—corporations and small businesses.

I was in Ukraine to work with the CAP project team, and was fortunate to meet with governmental officials and lead advocacy and taxation workshops for association leaders.

Here are some highlights from my visit.

First Ukrainian CU

My visit to First Ukrainian Credit Union reminded me that credit union concerns know no borders.

The chairwoman of the board and the chairman of the credit committee told me that regulatory challenges prevent them from doing more to help their members, and a lack of awareness of credit unions prevents them from having a bigger impact in Ukraine, especially in rural areas.

I said they were telling me a familiar story, and that U.S. credit unions face similar challenges. These leaders would welcome credit unions in Ukraine coming together with a branding or awareness campaign.

But even if all credit unions participated, they don’t believe they would have the resources to make such a campaign successful.

CU tax status

During a roundtable meeting with government officials, national credit union associations, and others, lightbulbs went off when we discussed the tax treatment of U.S. credit unions.

Officials began to understand that the benefits credit unions provide outpace the cost of lost tax income, and that resources not spent on taxation support the health of credit unions. That this system has worked for U.S. credit unions for so long added significant credibility to the argument.

The term “not-for-profit,” however, does not translate very well from English. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “not-for-profit” as “designating an organization, corporation, etc., which does not operate for the purpose of making a profit.”

This is commonly expressed in the credit union context as “not for profit, not for charity, but for service.”

However, many languages don’t have a strictly equivalent term. Ukrainian, for example, has only two concepts for institutional purpose: for-profit and nonprofit (i.e. charities).

I hope I opened some minds to the third way, “not-for-profit,” whereby, unlike charities, institutions such as credit unions don’t depend on donors.

The potential for additional impact will provide significant motivation to overcome the technical issues preventing Ukrainian credit unions from being tax exempt.

NEXT: Advocacy principles

Advocacy principles

When I exposed Ukrainian credit union and association leaders to the principles of advocacy, I encouraged them to work on adopting principles and processes that promote unity, clarity of objectives, and discipline and endurance.

I noted that advocacy is a process, not an event. I stressed that it will take time to develop and succeed.

And, I challenged them to call upon those most invested in credit unions’ success—members—to help with advocacy.

Everyone in the workshop expressed an eagerness to develop a sophisticated advocacy program, and the quality and depth of their questions and discussion was impressive.

Time constraints prohibited us from covering all of the prepared material. But I could tell they were truly getting it when I heard them express some of the same concerns I hear from U.S. credit union leaders regarding the involvement of members in these efforts.

The next steps for Ukrainian credit unions follow two paths. On one hand, they have immediate challenges they must address with their government, and they need to continue their direct lobbying efforts on credit unions’ tax status and their ability to serve legal persons.

As Ukraine continues its path toward European Union membership, it faces deadlines that will make it difficult to change the tax treatment of credit unions.

At the same time, the country’s credit unions would be much more effective if they could develop a sophisticated advocacy agenda and program.

We all got a good chuckle when I said that from my perspective, the only difference between the U.S. credit union system’s potential and the Ukrainian credit union system’s potential was the fact the U.S. has a 200-year head start in representative democracy.

Their potential is truly in their own hands, and the workshop was the first step on a long path. Now we must help them take the next steps.

They’re eager and ready for the challenge.

RYAN DONOVAN is CUNA’s chief advocacy officer. Contact him at 202-508-6750.