The LPEA Round Up Foundation Board granted $42,355 in funding to local non-profit organizations at its April, May, and June 2023 meetings. These grants are part of the board's ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life in our community. Since the beginning of 2023, the board has approved 28 grants amounting to $76,195. The grants aim to advance and support non-profit causes within La Plata and Archuleta counties.
The following non-profit groups received funding as part of these two recent grant cycles:
- Archuleta Seniors, Inc.
- Boy Scout Troop 538
- Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County
- Calvary Presbyterian Church
- Dancing Spirit, Inc.
- Durango 9-R Food and Nutrition
- Durango Arts Center
- Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering
- Durango High School Aerospace Design Team
- Durango High School Parent Teacher Organization
- Durango PlayFest
- Durango Trails
- Durango Wrestling Club
- KUTE, Inc.
- Local First Foundation
- Miller Middle School STEM
- Music in the Mountains
- People Improving Communities and Kids Foundation
- Region 9 Economic Development District of SW CO
- Riverview Christian Fellowship
- San Juan BOCES
- Seed Studio
- Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable
- TARA Historical Society
- The Powerhouse
- Upper San Juan Search and Rescue
- Wildfire Adapted Partnership
Round Up Grants are made possible by the generosity of LPEA members, who choose to round up their electric bill each month to the next highest dollar. So far, approximately 16,986 LPEA members have donated $59,771 to the Round Up Foundation in 2023. Each month $5,000 in Unclaimed Capital Credits totaling $60,000 annually is also allocated by the LPEA Board of Directors to support Educational Grants.
A percentage of Round Up Foundation funds is also distributed to community assistance programs each year. In 2023, the Round Up Foundation allocated $12,442 to the Community Emergency Assistance Coalition and $4,131 to the Pagosa Outreach Connection to provide families and individuals with emergency assistance funds.
Grants are available to registered 501(c)(3) non-profit 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 here. The average LPEA member contribution is just $6.00 annually. Members can also elect to donate more each month if they would like to contribute additional money to local non-profits automatically.
Established in 1997, the La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation is a non-profit, community-support fund for organizations and individuals in LPEA's service territory. A local, eleven-member volunteer board reviews applications and allocates funds. 100% of the tax-deductible donations stay in the communities LPEA serves. For more information, visit lpea.coop/grant-programs.