About the Foundation
Originally established to promote financial literacy in the communities we serve. Today, that commitment has grown into a broader mission: creating access, expanding opportunity, and helping individuals and families build financial momentum.
Founded in 2010
For more than 15 years, the Foundation has invested in initiatives that help individuals and families thrive. What began as a commitment to financial education has evolved into a broader focus on youth, community enrichment, and expanding access to opportunity.
A Non-Profit Organization
The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, where contributions directly fund Foundation initiatives.
Investing Time & Money
In addition to Foundation-led programs, we support local organizations through monetary donations and volunteering.
The Foundation's Mission/Vision
The Foundation's focus is aligned with our core value of supporting and meeting the needs of the communities we serve.
Our Mission: We open doors. We widen paths. And we give every person the chance to build the financial life they imagine.
Our Vision: To be the heartbeat of community progress where showing up sparks change, purpose fuels action and financial momentum becomes a movement.
Our Core Values
People First
Lead with empathy, compassion, and care meeting people where they are and supporting them with respect, humanity, and a genuine desire to help them thrive.
Powerful Partnerships
Build deep, trust-filled partnerships that multiply impact. Collaboration across neighborhoods, schools, nonprofits, and within our credit union allows us to change more lives, together.
Conscious Curiosity
Learn from our communities, from each other, and from new ideas. Curiosity helps us uncover root causes, challenge assumptions and continuously strengthen our impact.
Foster Belonging
Create inclusive, welcoming spaces where every person feels valued, seen, and able to participate fully. We champion equity, celebrate uniqueness, and work to remove barriers that limit access.
Trendsetters
Lead the way in innovative community impact introducing forward-thinking programs, modern financial education, and new pathways to access that others aspire to follow.
Our Three Pillars
Financial Education
We believe financial well-being creates opportunities for people to thrive. We support programs that equip individuals, focusing on serving high school and college students and financially vulnerable populations, with the tools and confidence to build strong financial futures.
Youth
We invest in young people because they are essential to the future of our communities. Our support focuses on early childhood development, mental and behavioral health, scholarships, and access to essential needs such as stable housing and nutritious food.
Community Enrichment
Strong communities create opportunities for everyone to thrive. We support initiatives that address critical community needs, including attainable housing, food insecurity, and other efforts that strengthen community well-being.
Who Can Apply
Wings provides funding to various nonprofits that fall into any of the following impact categories:
- Youth: Primary program impact focuses on children and young people, with an emphasis on early childhood development, mental and behavioral health, and access to essential needs such as stable housing and nutritious food.
- Education: Primary program impact supports financial education and lifelong learning at all levels, with a focus on programs that equip individuals, especially high school and college students, with the knowledge and tools to build strong financial futures. This includes support for scholarships at colleges and universities.
- Community: Primary program impact addresses major community issues with a focus on community enrichment, attainable housing, food insecurity, homelessness and/or poverty.
- Legacy: Primary program impact does not fit into any categories above but may continue to receive support based on our heritage.
The Application Process
To apply, you must submit an application through Wings’ online grant portal. Requests and/or applications submitted through email and mail will not be accepted.
The funding application includes, but is not limited to:
- Nonprofit details and program information
- Geographic impact
- Community impact if funding is given
- Volunteer information for Ent employees
- Prior exposure and/or relationship with Ent
For assistance navigating the application portal, please contact the Community Impact Team at communityadvocacy@ent.com.
Evaluation Criteria
Funding requests are reviewed by the Community Advocacy Decision Committee on a quarterly basis. Collectively, the committee reviews the application and scores the application based on Wings’ guidelines, impact categories (see step A above) and a decision matrix to determine an amount to award the requester, if any. The decision matrix includes criteria such as:
- Geographical reach
- Due diligence and impact if funding was awarded
- Volunteer opportunities available
Once the Decision Committee meets, nonprofit organizations will receive an email from Wings regarding their decision. If awarded, a check will be delivered through Benevity.
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