The La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation Board approved a total of $36,965 in grant funding to local non-profit 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 (CRIA), 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. $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) 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 at lpea.coop/round-foundation. The average LPEA member contribution is just $6.00 annually. Members can also elect to automatically donate more each month if they would like to contribute additional money to local non-profits.