Inclusiv Launches Initiative to Support Credit Unions Help Families “Protect What Matters”
New York, NY (October 1, 2026) Today, Inclusiv released Protecting What Matters, a first-of-its-kind landscape analysis examining how community development credit unions (CDCUs) are helping low- and moderate-income families protect the financial progress they have worked so hard to achieve. The official launch was announced during Inclusiv’s regional convening in Madison, Wisconsin.
The report marks the first step in Inclusiv’s broader Asset Protection and Legacy Planning initiative tackling a question central to the community development credit union movement: How can we help families not only build financial stability and assets, but protect and preserve those gains and pass them on to the next generation?
Made possible by a $1.5 million grant from JPMorganChase, this effort will equip CDCUs with asset protection resources that can help families preserve wealth across generations. Protecting What Matters examines the products, services, education, and partnerships CDCUs currently offer across the asset-building journey. The report, which examined about 100 Inclusiv credit union members, found that four out of five CDCUs in the study already offer common asset-building products and services, demonstrating a strong foundation for helping members protect and preserve the assets they build. On the other hand, just 18% offer asset protection tools like legacy planning. This presents an important opportunity to better connect CDCUs’ asset building resources with asset protection and legacy planning education, trusted guidance, and partnerships to support members throughout their financial lives.
“We are excited to advance Inclusiv’s work in this critical area and committed to providing our member CDCUs with the tools and resources they need to launch or strengthen their asset protection programs,” said Cathie Mahon, President/CEO of Inclusiv. “This is a natural continuation of our work to advance financial inclusion and economic opportunity. Helping families build assets has long been central to that work; helping them protect, preserve, and ultimately pass down those assets is the logical next step. Asset protection should be a key part of every family’s financial journey, regardless of income or wealth.”
"Building financial security is about more than accumulating assets. Families also need the knowledge, tools and trusted support to protect what they have worked hard to build and preserve it for the next generation,” said Mercedeh Mortazavi, Head of Financial Health, Global Philanthropy, JPMorganChase. “This work provides an important foundation for strengthening the resources and partnerships that can help CDCU’s support families at every stage of their financial journey.”
The release of Protecting What Matters is just the first step. Building on the findings, Inclusiv will develop customized training, practical tools, and a resource hub to help CDCUs strengthen and expand asset protection programs within their member services. Inclusiv will also work alongside CDCUs and partners to identify effective approaches, resources, and partnerships that can be adapted to different credit union capacities and community needs. The goal is to move from understanding the landscape to equipping CDCUs with practical resources they can put into action, helping more families protect, preserve, and carry forward the financial progress they have worked hard to achieve.
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