How the Round Up Foundation has quietly powered community impact for three decades
Why Round Up Matters
Thirty years ago, a simple idea took root at La Plata Electric: what if small, voluntary contributions from members could add up to meaningful, lasting support for local nonprofits?
That idea became the Round Up Foundation, and for 30 years, members choosing to round their electric bills to the nearest dollar have helped turn spare change into real community impact.
Today, Round Up is a reminder that when a community comes together, even the smallest actions can fuel something powerful.
30 Years of Giving, Powered by Members
Since its first grant in 1995, the Round Up Foundation has returned millions of dollars back into the communities we serve, supporting essential services, expanding opportunities, and responding to evolving local needs.
Every dollar comes from members. Every grant stays local. And every story is rooted in people helping people.
Three Ways We Support Our Communities
The Round Up Foundation focuses its giving through three distinct grant types, each designed to meet different needs across our service territory.
- Community Impact Grants
These grants support nonprofits delivering essential services and long-term community benefits; from food security and housing stability to youth programs and senior services. Community Impact Grants help organizations strengthen their operations and serve more people, more effectively. - Education & Youth Grants
Investing in young people means investing in our future. Education & Youth Grants support programs that foster learning, leadership, and opportunity for students of all ages. - Emergency & Special Needs Grants
When unexpected challenges arise, timely support matters. Special Needs Grants provide flexible funding to help nonprofits respond to urgent situations; whether that’s assisting individuals in crisis or addressing unforeseen community needs.
Measuring Impact Beyond the Dollar
Over three decades, Round Up funding has supported hundreds of nonprofits and thousands of individuals across our region.
But the true impact goes beyond grant totals:
- Meals served
- Families housed
- Students supported
- Lives stabilized during moments of crisis
Each grant represents trust. Trust placed by our members and carried forward by local organizations doing the work on the ground.
Where It All Began: Manna Soup Kitchen
The very first Round Up grant was awarded to Manna Soup Kitchen, an organization that continues to serve as a cornerstone of food security in our community.
For decades, Manna has provided warm meals, dignity, and connection to neighbors in need, reflecting the heart of what Round Up was created to support.
Highlighting Manna reminds us that while the scale of Round Up has grown, its purpose has remained the same: showing up for our neighbors, one meal, one grant, one act of generosity at a time
Looking Ahead: The Next 30 Years
As our communities evolve, so will the needs, and the Round Up Foundation will continue adapting alongside them.
With every member who chooses to participate, we’re building a future rooted in cooperation, compassion, and local care.
Thank you to the members who have made 30 years of giving possible.Together, we’re proving that small change can create lasting impact.
Interested in participating in Round Up or learning more about the Foundation? Visit lpea.coop/roundup to learn more, and consider making a special one-time $30 donation via our Venmo @LPEA-RoundUp