La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation Board approves $36,965 in grants to local nonprofits in third quarter

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By Hillary Knox
La Plata Electric Association

The La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation board approved a total of $36,965 in grant funding to local nonprofit organizations at its meetings in July, August and September of 2021. 

Durango Food Bank, Bear Smart Durango, League of Women Voters, LASSO Horse Rescue, Pagosa Play Place, Silver Spruce Academy, Chimney Rock Interpretive Association, Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center, 4CORE and Seeds of Learning received funding as part of these three grant cycles. The board has approved 31 grants so far in 2021, totaling $96,334. In 2020, the board approved 44 grants totaling $115,785. 

Round Up Foundation grants are made possible, in part, by the generosity of La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) members who choose to round up their electric bill each month to the next highest dollar. A total of $60,000 in unclaimed LPEA capital credits are also provided annually to the La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation board, on behalf of the LPEA Board of Directors, to support these grants. 

Grants are available to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in La Plata and Archuleta counties and usually range from $500 to $5,000. Application forms are available at lpea.coop/grant-programs. 

LPEA members wishing to round up their bill can sign up on SmartHub or at lpea.coop/round-foundation. The average LPEA member contribution is just $6 annually. Members can also elect to automatically donate more each month if they would like to contribute additional money to local nonprofits. 

Established in 1997, the La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation is a nonprofit, community-support fund for organizations and individuals in LPEA’s service territory. A local, 11-member volunteer board reviews applications and allocates funds, with 100 percent of the tax-deductible donations staying in the communities LPEA serves. 

For additional information, contact LPEA at (970) 247-5786 or visit lpea.coop.