We're proud to support our community through Operation Round Up.
More than $1,000,000 awarded to nonprofits that improve our local quality of life since 1998!

Funding is provided by electric co-op members who round up electric bills. When you round up, your monthly donation is between 1 and 99 cents, averaging just 50 cents per month or $6 per year. When all member donations are combined, your small change makes a big difference for our community. Thank you!

Read General Manager Blog, The power of rounding up: Your change is changing lives

Local nonprofits: Read giving guidelines below and apply here for an Operation Round Up grant.

 

OPERATION ROUND UP

Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of life in Polk-Burnett's service territory. This includes public safety, health care, self-sufficiency, cultural enhancement and youth programs.

Grants are generally not awarded to individuals; organizations with religious, political or national affiliations; fundraising events; capital campaigns or scholarship programs.

Only one grant per year will be awarded to an organization.

Please submit a complete application for consideration, including:

1. Application form.
2. Upload your organization's most recent financial statement (a budget summary or balance sheet showing income and expenses specific to the project or program for which you are seeking grant funds).
3. Upload 501(c)(3) documentation of tax-exempt status under the IRS Code Section or a letter of explanation regarding your tax-exempt status. (See sample.)
3. Upload proposed program or project budget for which you are seeing grant funds. 
4. Provide detailed account of how a previous Operation Round Up grant was used, if received.

See "Who can apply?" above to learn if you are eligible.

Application deadlines are March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1.

Grant applications are accepted and reviewed quarterly. Application deadlines are:

  • March 1
  • June 1
  • September 1
  • December 1

Grants are approved by an Operation Round Up board of nine directors. All are local members of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative and they represent all nine districts across the co-op's service area.

Directors meet four times a year and are not paid for their time, except mileage reimbursement.

Funding for Operation Round Up is donated by local co-op members like you who volunteer to round up their monthly electricity bill to the next even dollar amount.

For example, if your bill is $78.70, it will round up to $79.00 and your contribution for the month is 30¢.

Your donation is tax-deductible and never goes above 99¢ per month; the average donation for the year is $6. This may not sound like a lot, but when donations from all participating members are combined, Operation Round Up can do a lot of good.

New members of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative are automatically enrolled in Operation Round Up and will have electric bills rounded up, unless you check the opt out box on your new service application. Enrolled members may opt out of this community giving program at any time by contacting our billing office, 800-421-0283, ext. 335 or e-mail.

Thank you! Your generosity is changing lives!

New members of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative are automatically enrolled in Operation Round Up and will have electric bills rounded up, unless you check the opt out box on your new service application.

Co-op members may opt in or opt out of this community giving program at any time by contacting our billing office, 800-421-0283, ext. 335 or e-mail.

Joan O'Fallon, communications director
Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative
800-421-0283, ext. 333
jofallon@polkburnett.com 

Having trouble with or don't like the online application form?

Here is another option for you:

1. Download and print a PDF application.

2. Complete the submit your application with required financial and nonprofit documentation.

3. Applications can be emailed to jofallon@polkburnett.com, dropped off at Polk-Burnett offices in Siren or Centuria during business hours or mailed to: Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, 1001 State Road 35, Centuria WI 54824. If you submit via email, make sure you receive a confirmation that the application was received.

GRANT WINNERS

Quote

Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative supports local youth and community, according to our cooperative principles.

Steve Stroshane, general manager

 

OPERATION ROUND-UP® Grant Guidelines

Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative is pleased to provide financial support to community, educational and charitable programs in our local area through Operation Round-Up®. Funding for Operation Round-Up is made possible by co-op members who round their monthly electric bill up to the next even dollar amount. Member donations are combined, and Operation Round Up grants are awarded quarterly to improve our local quality of life.

ELIGIBILITY, Who can apply for a grant:

  • Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a commitment to improving the quality of life in our co-op service territory, with an emphasis on:
    • Public safety, health care, basic human needs, self-sufficiency, the arts and culture of our local area, youth and education.
    • Programs that empower self-reliance, problem solving and leadership, and those that address social issues and help at-risk children and teens.
  • Grants will be made to organizations that have tax-exempt status under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3).
  • Grants will be awarded to programs and projects that benefit local communities in our co-op service area.
  • Only one grant per year will be awarded to a nonprofit organization.
  • Annual grants typically do not exceed $1,000 for any organization.

RESTRICTIONS, Grants will generally NOT be awarded to:

  • Lobbying and political organizations.
  • Fraternal and labor organizations.
  • Religious organizations and churches.
  • Fundraisers (dinners, raffles, benefits).
  • Individuals.
  • Scholarship programs.
  • National fund drives.
  • Advertising.
  • Ongoing operational expenses and wages.
  • Cemetery and lake associations.

REQUIREMENT CHECKLIST, You must provide a complete application package for consideration, including:

1. Complete online application form. Answer all questions and don't forget your signature.
2. Upload most recent financial statement for your organization (budget summary or balance sheet showing income and expenses for your organization). Do not attach full budget or audit report.
3. Upload proposed program or project budget for which you are seeking grant funds. List expenses needed to fulfill your project or program. Expenses may be estimated, rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
4. Upload 501(c)(3) documentation of tax-exempt status under the IRS Code Section or a letter of explanation regarding your tax-exempt status.
5. If your organization has previously received an Operation Round-Up grant, the application requires that you give a detailed account of how the previous grant was used.

Applications not meeting these requirements will not be considered.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1.

GRANT SELECTION

Grants are approved by an Operation Round Up board of nine directors. All are local members of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative and they represent all nine districts across the co-op's service area. Directors meet four times a year and are not paid for their time, except mileage reimbursement.

GRANT FUNDING

Funding for Operation Round Up is donated by local co-op members like you who volunteer to round up their monthly electricity bill to the next even dollar amount. For example, if your bill is $78.70, it will round up to $79.00 and your contribution for the month is 30¢.

Your donation is tax-deductible and never goes above 99¢ per month; the average donation for the year is $6. This may not sound like a lot, but when donations from all participating members are combined, Operation Round Up can do a lot of good.

New members of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative are automatically enrolled in Operation Round Up and will have electric bills rounded up, unless you check the opt out box on your new service application. Enrolled members may opt out of this community giving program at any time by contacting our billing office, 800-421-0283, ext. 335 or e-mail.

Thank you! Your generosity is changing lives

HAVING TROUBLE WITH ONLINE APPLICATION FORM?

Download, print and submit PDF application.

Applications can be emailed to jofallon@polkburnett.com, dropped off at Polk-Burnett offices in Siren or Centuria during business hours or mailed to: Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, 1001 State Road 35, Centuria WI 54824. If you submit via email, make sure you receive a confirmation that the application was received.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Joan O’Fallon, communications director, Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, 800-421-0283, ext. 333, or jofallon@polkburnett.com.