Using our spare change to see positive “change” in our local communities
With about 73 percent of Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association members contributing less than $1 for each bill, the Trust is able to gather and distribute an average of more than $40,000 per year.
Establish a policy of giving with Operation Round Up®
Operation Round Up: Your electric bill will be “rounded-up” to the next higher dollar unless you contact us that you choose not to participate. Operation Round Up® is governed by a group of volunteers called the Meeker Cooperative Electric Trust Board. Operating independently as a non-charitable giving organization, they issue grants in March, August, and December to community projects and charities within our service area, such as fire departments, schools, youth, and senior programs, community events, and agricultural societies. Contributions are generally only awarded once during a calendar year to an entity.
Sign up to become part of the Operation Round Up family!
Operation Round Up® is an incredible program that operates much like our cooperative, where people work together for the good of all.
Deadlines for grant applications are the close of business the first Thursday in:
- February
- July
- November
The Electric Trust Board meets to consider grant applications on the first Thursdays in:
- March
- August
- December
Scholarships available through Operation Round Up®
A $1,000 scholarship is available for high school seniors whose parent/guardian is either a member or employee of Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association or a Vibrant Broadband subscriber. Eligible students of the following schools should contact their scholarship program administrator for more information.
- ACGC High School
- BOLD High School
- Dassel-Cokato High School
- Eden Valley-Watkins High School
- Hutchinson High School
- Kimball Area High School
- Litchfield High School
- Paynesville High School
A $1,000 scholarship is available to a student enrolled or enrolling in the Lineman’s training program at Minnesota West Community & Technical College in Jackson, MN, or at Minnesota State Community & Technical College in Wadena, or any other Minnesota-approved lineman or electrician program. The parent/guardian of the student selected to receive the scholarship must be a member or employee of Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association or Vibrant Broadband subscriber. Eligible students should contact the technical colleges' financial office for more information.
A $1,000 scholarship is available to a student enrolled or enrolling in the electrician program at Ridgewater College in Hutchinson or Willmar, or any Minnesota-approved lineman or electrician program. The parent/guardian of the student selected to receive the scholarship must be a member or employee of Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association or Vibrant Broadband subscriber. Eligible students should contact the Ridgewater College Foundation at the campus for more information.
Non-Traditional Student Scholarships
Application Deadline: First Thursday in February
An eligible candidate should be:
- Five or more years beyond high school graduation and
- Have an educational plan and show steady progress (have been enrolled at least one quarter or semester in the program) toward completion of required coursework. Student is not expected to be carrying a full course load.
- Recipient must be working toward a degree, certificate or licensure in some area of expertise. (Eligible candidates may be updating skills in a technical area such as computer skills or auto mechanics, may be updating skills for a specific trade or profession, or may be working towards a baccalaureate or master’s degree.)
- Applicant must be receiving power from Meeker Cooperative or Internet service from Vibrant Broadband. Employees of the Cooperative are eligible.
Amount of Scholarship: $1,000.
Monies will be sent directly to the educational institution to assist with tuition fees. Applicants may apply annually. Past recipients are not eligible.
K-12 Grant for Interdisciplinary Education
Application Deadline: July 1
The Meeker Cooperative Electric Trust will annually make available to applicants a maximum of $3,500 to be used by classroom teachers for new, collaborative projects within and beyond the classroom. Grant dollars will be distributed based on the merit/feasibility of applications received. Teachers who work in public or private schools serving students in Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Assn.’s service territory are eligible to apply. The project must include more than one teacher, along with possibly including parents and/or local businesses.
This grant is to be used to fund interdisciplinary education. Some ideas for the funds include, but are not limited to, speakers, festivals, interdisciplinary projects, multi-grade level projects, incentive programs, and school-wide events.
Operation Round Up Guidelines are available as a downloadable file on this page.
Please contact us for more information on these grants.