Chief Financial Credit Union

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter? Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Michigan. You don't need to be a Chief Financial member.
Which category do we choose? Use total revenue from your most recent IRS Form 990. Under $2,000,000 goes in Under $2 Million. $2,000,000 or more goes in $2 Million and Up.
Can we submit more than one video? No. One entry per organization.
When is the deadline? Saturday, October 31, at 11:59 PM ET.
What happens after we submit? We review every entry to check eligibility. Once it's approved, you'll get an email with a link to your voting page. If something needs fixing, we'll email you and tell you why.

What should our video say? Answer two questions: Who do you serve? What would a $10,000 grant help you do next? Say your organization's name at the start.
Does it need to look professional? No. Your phone is perfect, and production quality doesn't affect the outcome. Film horizontally if you can, somewhere quiet. Sound matters more than picture.
How long can it be? 60 to 90 seconds.
What file types work? MP4 or MOV, up to 400MB. If your upload stalls, try a strong Wi-Fi connection or a desktop browser
Can we show the people we serve? Yes, as long as everyone on camera agreed to be there. For minors, get a parent or guardian's permission.
Can we get help recording? Yes. The Click, presented by Chief Financial Credit Union, is a digital marketing studio at Rochester Christian University. Student workers can help you record your video live in the studio. Spots are limited. To book, contact Kendra Corman, Management and Marketing Program Chair at kcorman@rcu.edu.

How does voting work? There are two public rounds. Every approved entry is in Round 1 (November 1 to 14). The top 3 in each category move to Round 2 (November 15 to 28), and vote counts go back to zero. The entry with the most Round 2 votes in each category wins $10,000.
How often can people vote? Once a day for each entry, with a verified email address.
Why didn't my vote count? Check your inbox (and spam folder) for a verification email. Your vote counts once you confirm it. If you already voted for that entry today, try again tomorrow.
Can we see our vote count? Yes.
Will we get help promoting our entry? Yes. Every approved entry gets a Chief Cares media kit with social graphics and a press release template. It comes with your approval email.

When are winners announced? Tuesday, December 1, Giving Tuesday.
Are there restrictions on how we use the grant? No. The grant is unrestricted, so use it wherever your organization needs it most.

Questions? Email contest@chiefonline.com. We respond within one business day.