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Operation Round Up®

More than 75 percent of Stearns Electric Association members participate in ORU by allowing the Cooperative to round up their monthly electric bill.

Through the Operation Round Up® (ORU) program, Stearns Electric Association gives our member-owners the opportunity to give back to the community. Since the program’s inception in 1993, ORU and Stearns Electric members have awarded over $2 million to local non-profit organizations and community service programs.

The rounded up funds (between 1¢ and 99¢) are placed in a trust fund that 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 by completing the Opt Out Form.

 

OPERATION ROUND UP® FUND HAVE BEEN USED TO HELP

Youth Organizations
Senior Organizations
Food Shelves
Community Organizations
School Scholarships
Local Environmental Projects
Park and Lake Associations
Health Groups
Provide Life-Saving Equipment for Local Emergency Responders
Sports and Recreation Groups
Personal Medical Needs
and More…

The Operation Round Up® Trust Board operates independently of the Stearns Electric Association Board of Directors and evaluates funding requests to be distributed on a regular basis. There is one representative selected from each of the Cooperative’s voting districts. Meetings are generally held and funds are distributed three times a year.

 

APPLY FOR FUNDING

Complete Online Form

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT OPERATION ROUND UP®

Current ORU Trust Board Members
ORU Funding Guidelines
ORU Funding Recipients
ORU Opt Out Form

 

APPLY FOR TRUST BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Complete Online Director Application

 

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 Operation Round Up Coordinator, PO Box 816, St. Joseph, MN 56374.

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