Our Story

Publicly launched in October 2021, the Firstmark Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, serves as a giving arm of the credit union to focus on the needs of schools. The Foundation’s common purpose is to make a tangible, positive impact in the education community through the collective giving of our membership. Powered by members enrolled in Power of the Dollar^® Checking, the Foundation will fund significant needs across our school districts, such as constructing new facilities, improving existing amenities, and enhancing learning spaces.

Since its inauguration, the Foundation has helped support the early infrastructure costs of CAST Teach High School, The Holdsworth Center’s professional development program for superintendents in Texas, and a residency program for educators with the CAST Schools Network. Additionally, the Foundation has successfully funded 55 education grants across Bexar County and the surrounding area, where the grants afford school employees the opportunity to create innovative programming and initiatives that help students learn and engage with important content and concepts. Through the Foundation, we want to continue to help improve our school communities, assisting programs such as CAST Teach, CAST Schools, and The Holdsworth Center. Better prepared educators mean better prepared students.