Local organizations can benefit from the generosity of REMC members who participate in Operation Round Up and allow their electric bill to be rounded up to the next dollar each month. The extra change is collected in the Operation Round Up fund and distributed to local groups and organizations in the form of grants.
The mission of Daviess-Martin REMC Community Fund, Inc. is the accumulation and disbursement of funds for charitable purposes in Daviess, Martin and Lawrence counties.
This shall be accomplished by disbursement of funds to groups or organizations for food, shelter, clothing, health needs and education. Annual disbursements are limited to $10,000 per group or organization.
It is an ongoing charitable fundraising program to benefit worthwhile community projects. REMC members who round up their electric bill to an even dollar amount donate those funds. Many rural electric cooperatives across the country have implemented the program which was originated by Palmetto Electric Cooperative in South Carolina.
Each month, members who wish to participate will allow Daviess-Martin County REMC to automatically round up electric bills to the next highest dollar amount. For example, if your bill is $68.51, your bill will be rounded up to $69, meaning that month’s contribution is 49 cents. If your bill is $68.90, your bill will be rounded up to $69, contributing 10 cents. The extra cents will be put into the Daviess-Martin County REMC Community Fund, Inc. The cost to you will be 99 cents or less per month and will average about $6.00 a year per member. Individually it doesn’t sound like much, but collectively it adds up in a hurry.
Any group or organization in the REMC’s service area is eligible to apply for a grant from the community fund. However, funds will not be used to pay utility bills or go towards political campaigns.
Grant application times are due on the last working day of the following months: February, May, August and November. Quarterly meetings for review of applications are held in March, June, September and December.
A list of the funds given out will be featured periodically in the Indiana Connection. Until the funds are distributed, they will be placed in a separate account called Daviess-Martin REMC Community Fund, Inc.
A nine-member volunteer board of directors from the Daviess-Martin County REMC geographic area will review the applications and make grant recommendations.
Separate from the Daviess-Martin County REMC board of directors, this non-paid board will evaluate applications made to the program and make recommendations for issuing of grants. The board will have a set of bylaws by which to operate.
Any participation from our members is appreciated. However, if you’d like only one of your accounts rounded up, just let us know.
Anyone can opt-in or opt-out from Operation Round Up at any time by contacting the Daviess-Martin County REMC office. You can also find forms here to opt-in (link is external)or opt-out(link is external) of the program. Members may receive a refund for up to one year’s contributions.
Yes! Operation Round Up donations are tax-exempt, and Daviess-Martin County REMC notifies each member on the January billing the total contributions for the preceding year.
No. The funds will not be used to pay any utility bills. Nor will funds be used for political contributions.
Yes! Those eligible to apply for the funds include groups or organizations located within the communities of Daviess, Martin and Lawrence counties. Applicants need not be members of Daviess-Martin County REMC. For the most part the funds will be provided to meet the needs of applications that are not being met through other sources. The maximum amount available to any group or organization in any one year is $10,000.
Examples of grants would be for fire department equipment, EMS, youth and school groups, youth camps, foundations, senior citizen groups, and other various community programs and projects.
Yes! Our attorney has reviewed the By-Laws of the Operation Round Up program and has filed all of the documentation to implement the program.
One of the cooperative principals is Concern for Communities. We feel a strong responsibility to the people in our service territory communities that goes beyond simply providing reliable, economical power.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Operation Round Up is that it is an extension of the concept of neighbor helping neighbor that built our electric cooperative. Just as our forefathers joined together to build their own electric systems when private power companies refused to serve rural areas, Operation Round Up helps co-op members reach out to worthy causes in their communities and work together to help others.
Tom Boyd
Marty Evans
Tony Earl
Dan Gregory
Peggy Lyon
Joelle Rose
Linda Stites
Theresa Showalter
Rachel Sutton
If your group or organization would benefit from an Operation Round Up grant, click on the link below to download the application, save it to your computer, complete it and return it to Daviess-Martin County REMC, following the instructions on the first page of the application.
