Caisse Populaire Kahnawake puts 2023 cash back into community

The Caisse Populaire Kahnawake’s board voted to pour $45,000 into its Community Development Fund last week when it held its Annual General Meeting at La Vista restaurant.

The Caisse Populaire paid out nearly $562,000 to members over and above the CDF contribution.

Caisse chairman Mike Delisle said it was important to be able to put so much cash back into the community.

“Community Development Funds are powerful drivers that are unique to Desjardins, as they're linked to our co-operative nature,” he said. “Our fund allows the Caisse to support meaningful projects that meet the needs of members in our community."

The Caisse posted a 2023 operating surplus with earnings of $12.3 million, up 47 percent from 2022, while its business volume grew by 14.7 percent to $755.6 million in 2023.

In addition to paying out member dividends, the Caisse gave back $59,846 to the community in 2023, including $34,626 in donations and sponsorships. Broken down by subject, the Caisse Populaire Kahnawake doled out $7,080 to education projects, $13,500 for cultural projects, $6,000 for economic development, health and healthy-lifestyle projects got $5,446 and community and humanitarian work got $2,600.

In addition, the Caisse also reinvested $25,220 through the CDF. Those investments, broken down, went to community and humanitarian work ($15,000), education ($3,892), health and healthy lifestyles ($7,018) and culture ($690).

Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase