What is Operation Round Up®?
It is a charitable program unique to electric cooperatives designed to provide financial assistance to local school programs, philanthropic groups, non-profit organization, rescue squads, volunteer fire departments and other deserving causes that benefits members within Spoon River’s service area.
Spoon River will “round up” your monthly electric bill to the next whole dollar. For example, a bill amount of $65.48 would be rounded up to $66.00. The additional 52 cents would be your Operation Round Up® contribution for that month.
The concept behind the program extends the principle on which electric co-ops were built over 75 years ago – neighbor helping neighbor to benefit the communities in which we live and work. Donations are only a few cents a month and average about $6 to $12 a year. It is small change, but it delivers big benefits to local community and charitable organizations.
Because donations are automatically collected through your monthly electric bill – and will show as a separate line item, it’s easy to contribute on a regular basis. You can track your tax deductible Operation Round Up® donations by simply keeping the top portion of your bill.
The small change you contribute to Operation Round Up® is deposited into the Spoon River Electric Foundation account. An independent, volunteer Spoon River Foundation committee consisting of Spoon River members who will carefully review grant applications and determine who receives funding. Foundation Board members volunteer their time, and except for optional mileage reimbursement, received no pay or compensation for serving on the board.
The program can help replenish food supplies for local food pantries, help support senior citizen hospice programs, purchase supplies and equipment for rural fire departments and emergency response services, provide funds for community programs and help children of all ages by supporting community youth activities and school programs. The funds will not be used to pay members bill, nor will they be used for political purposes.
Electric cooperatives across the United States have been offering this program since 1989 to help co-op consumers reach out to worthy causes in the community and work together to help others.
Applications are available here. Be watching our various media outlets – Illinois Country Living, www.srecoop.org, Facebook, and local newspapers for details on where your donations are going.
If you wish to participate in the program do nothing and you will automatically be enrolled. Beginning in September 2017, your contribution will be automatically included on your bills.
If you DO NOT wish to participate (and have not let us know), please contact the office to opt out. You will be able to opt in or out at any time.
No matter how you pay your bill – by check, automatic draft or online through eBill Pay – should you want to contribute more that the “rounded up” amount during the year, you can make an additional contribution by writing a separate check made out to the Spoon River Electric Foundation and mailing it to Spoon River.
For less than $1 a month, you can make a difference in someone’s life. It may seem like small change, and it is, but when you multiply that thousands of Spoon River members participating in Operation Round Up®, it makes a big difference.
Click here for the Operation Round Up grant application. Print, complete and submit all materials by the date(s) listed:
Cycle 1 – 1st Monday in January – Deadline for applications
Cycle 2 – 1st Monday in April – Deadline for applications
Cycle 3 – 1st Monday in July – Deadline for applications
Cycle 4 – 1st Monday in October – Deadline for applications
You might have questions about Operation Round Up®. We have some answers. I you need further information than what is provided, please contact us at 309.647.2700