For years, CoBank has supported numerous national and regional organizations.  In 2006, the bank expanded its financial support for a number of other organizations and community events that focus on fulfilling basic human needs, supporting children and young adults, and promoting health and wellness. As a result, we have committed significant levels of corporate sponsorship of United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Food Bank of the Rockies.  CoBank's support extends beyond the financial – a CoBank executive serves on the board of each of these groups, providing leadership and expertise to help them achieve their goals.  

With 600 associates working in offices across the U.S., our community of employees is a large one.  Every one of these employees has the opportunity to direct a contribution of up to $200 each year to a civic or community organization of their choice. Our corporate giving program also provides for a $5,000 directed donation for each of the directors who serve on our board and each member of our CoBank Rural America Leadership Council. Together, we invest in a wide variety of charitable organizations, ranging from those supporting cancer research to those helping women and children in need. Investments such as these help make our associates proud to be part of our team. You'll find a list of organizations receiving CoBank financial support here.

We also provide funds to supplement personal employee contributions – most notably to the United Way and United Co-op Appeal (UCA). In fact, CoBank has an $800,000 commitment to the Mile High United Way, which is the United Way chapter in the metro-Denver area. 

We also respond to special national and community needs. In 2005, through gifted contributions made on behalf of our customers, as well as donations made by our associates and board members, we were able to contribute more than $211,000 to relief efforts in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

On occasion, we also aid charitable organizations in foreign countries at the request of our associates who coordinate export financing to developing nations. Over the past few years, we contributed to various relief agencies to assist victims of natural disasters in Asia, El Salvador and Turkey. We also contributed to the Wheat for the People and Water for People programs. Wheat for the People helps feed the needy in post-war Afghanistan. Water for People teaches local communities in developing countries how to build and maintain safe drinking water facilities.