Dec. 31, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Valley Energy.

Members of Sioux Valley Energy impacted their communities to the tune of $164,000 in 2024 by rounding up their monthly electric bills through the cooperative’s Operation Round Up^® program.

Just this year, ORU helped fund 97 nonprofit organizations, communities and schools for dozens of initiatives.

Examples include grants for purchasing uniforms for sporting and musical groups, feeding the hungry and improving recreational facilities in several towns. Main funding categories for the Sioux Valley Energy ORU program include community service, economic development, emergency energy assistance, disaster relief efforts, environmental programs, and education and youth initiatives.

Washington Pavilion Management Inc. received $1,500 to support Spotlight Theatre Company offerings for students age 6 to 18. Photo courtesy of Washington Pavilion Management

“I’m grateful for the commitment Sioux Valley Energy has to outstanding social service organizations in the service territory. Being part of the board who helps decide which worthy organizations receive funding is a great responsibility, and I’m honored to lead that effort for the ORU committee,” said Operation Round Up board chair Dan LaRock.

In total, more than $2.46 million has been donated since the year 2000 when the cooperative started the program. Operation Round Up was developed originally by the Palmetto Electric Cooperative in South Carolina. Hundreds of electric cooperatives around the country like Sioux Valley Energy now administer their own Operation Round Up programs.

Operation Round Up board members toured Rock Ranch at Hills, Minnesota, during one of their 2024 quarterly meetings. Photo by Carrie Vugteveen/Sioux Valley Energy

The program concept is simple – participating members “round up” their electric bill to the next high dollar, and those “rounded up” funds are placed into a trust. Additionally, many Sioux Valley Energy employees donate from their paycheck each month.

Requests for funding are considered quarterly and approved by the Operation Round Up board, a group of seven co-op members who are appointed by the Sioux Valley Energy board of directors. Each trustee represents one of the counties served by the co-op, which include Rock and Pipestone counties in Minnesota, along with Brookings County and parts of Kingsbury, Lake, Moody and Minnehaha counties in South Dakota.

Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison received $2,500 in funding to purchase a convection oven and warming table. Photo courtesy of Bethel Lutheran Home

“We think of Operation Round Up as a circle of giving – SVE members and employees give a small amount each month, and those dollars are then reinvested into the community, impacting everyone,” said Carrie Vugteveen, vice president of public relations.

A list of recent grant recipients, as well as information on how local organizations can apply for funding, can be found at siouxvalleyenergy.com/operation-round-up. The next deadline to apply for funding is Feb. 20, with grants being awarded in March.

To learn more, listen to the cooperative’s “Inside the Grid” podcast discussing the Operation Round Up program at siouxvalleyenergy.com/sve-day-giving.