Operation Round Up®

More than 70 percent of Stearns Electric Association members participate in Operation Round Up® (ORU). ORU serves local communities by donating funds to local civic organizations and worthy causes. Funds come from Stearns Electric Association members who allow the co-op to round up their monthly electric bill. The rounded up funds (between 1˘ and 99˘) are placed in a trust fund. The trust fund is administered by a trust board appointed by the Cooperative's elected board of directors.

Operation Round Up funds are given to local civic organizations and worthy causes through an application and selection process. The trust board uses special guidelines and policies in choosing recipients. To decline participation in ORU, members need to notify Stearns Electric Association about their choice in writing (e-mail, letter or fax) or by phone.

Operation Round Up funds have been used to help:

  • Youth organizations
  • Senior organizations
  • Food shelves
  • Community organizations
  • School scholarships
  • Local environmental projects
  • Park and lake associations
  • The physically and mentally challenged
  • Health Groups
  • Provide life-saving equipment used by local police and fire departments
  • Sports and recreation groups
  • Personal medical need

The trust board operates independently of the co-op’s board of directors and evaluates funding requests to be distributed on a regular basis. Each of the trust board representatives is appointed by Stearns Electric Association member-elected board of directors. There is one representative selected from each of the Cooperative’s voting districts. Meetings are generally held three times a year.

Operation Round Up Links:
Funding guidelines
View grant application
Current ORU Trust Board Members
Questions? Contact us by e-mail

Additional Donations:

Members who would like to donate more to the program may do so: checks can be made payable to the “Stearns Electric Association Trust Fund” and can be sent to: Operation Round Up, C/O Michelle Christiansen, 29643 Frontage Road, St. Joseph, MN 56374.