Carroll Electric's People for People Fund
Operation Round Up®
Neighbors Helping Neighbors with Spare Change!
Give a little... Help a lot!
Your spare change goes a long way when you share it through the Carroll Electric Cooperative, Inc. People for People Fund program. By voluntarily rounding up your electric bill payment to the next dollar each month, Carroll Electric's 11,000 consumers can and will make a big difference with small change in our local area. It's a concept that has worked within the communities of more than 100 electric cooperatives nationwide.
Your pennies, nickels and dimes help raise thousands of dollars every year. And those dollars are used to help your neighbors right here in the communities served by Carroll Electric. Health and rescue organizations, food banks, educational projects benefit ing students in our local schools, child care programs and individuals with special needs are just a few of the possibilities for your People for People Fund donations.
Every penny donated by Carroll Electric Cooperative members is put to good use in community projects. A small administrative cost to run People for People Fund will be absorbed by Carroll Electric.
Electric cooperatives across the nation are adopting the Operation Round Up because it gives their members a simple way to help their communities. At Carroll Electric, "it's called the "People for People Fund."
Download an application for donations - organizations
Download an application for donations - individuals
Here's How it Works
What happens when you participate in People for People fund?
For example, if a member's monthly bill comes to $86.46, we round it up to $87.00. The extra 54 cents goes directly to the Carroll Electric's People for People Fund, a trust fund set up to handle contributions. Statistics from the 100 electric cooperatives administering a similar program, show the average roundup for each member is just 50 cents a month – about the cost of one daily newspaper or a cup of coffee.
Each month, your bill will show an amount listed for the People for People Fund, and your bill will include the extra few cents to show an even dollar amount. We hope every Carroll Electric member will participate in the People for People Fund. When more members contribute, more help can be given.
You are automatically a part of the People for People Fund unless you let us know otherwise. If for any reason you choose not to participate, it's simple to let us know. You may opt out of or into the program at anytime by calling us at 330-627-2116 or 1-800-232-7697.
What if I don't want to contribute?
Every Co-op member is automatically enrolled in the program, but you can opt out of, or back into, the People for People Fund program very easily at any time. Just call us or enclose a note with your payment and we'll take care of it.
You Can Make a Difference
Grants from the People for People Fund to community organizations and others are made by a separate Board of Directors selected from Carroll Electric's service territory.
The Directors of the People for People Fund will review and approve applications for assistance based on demonstrated need and funds available. Political issues or campaigns will not be eligible for grants from the People for People Fund.
We'll keep you informed about projects chosen for funding by the People for People Fund through Country Living magazine and articles in local newspapers.
How do I know how much of my electric bill is going to Operation Round Up?
Your electric bill is printed with the usual information about your KWh usage with one extra line that lists People for People and the amount that rounds up your bill to the next dollar. Only the energy charge will be rounded up.
What happens to the Operation Round Up funds?
Every cent is deposited in the Carroll Electric's People for People Fund, a special trust fund which is used only for helping people or groups with specific needs. These contributions can be considered tax deductible, charitable donations.
Who controls how this money is spent?
A separate Board of Trustees has been named from throughout the Carroll Electric Cooperative, Inc. service area. The members of this board receive and evaluate all applications for funds and they make the final decisions.
What kind of projects is our money spent on?
At other cooperatives where this program has been working for some time already, money has been granted to a hospital to help build a helicopter pad for airlifting patients; to a paraplegic veteran for a modified wheelchair; to a blind student for a special reading machine; to an area Meals on Wheels program; to childcare agencies; to a fire department for a Jaws of Life extrication equipment; and a backstop for a local Little League.
The People for People Fund Board sets guidelines for evaluating applications. This project is successful because every penny is spent on enhancing the quality of life for residents of our local area, and the Co-op has agreed to pay any necessary administrative costs (such as copying and postage) as Carroll Electric's own contribution.
How much money is raised from this round-up?
The average contribution will be 50 cents per month per consumer. We hope every member will participate, because the more people participate, the more we're able to help.
When will grants be disbursed?
The People for People Fund Board of Trustees will award funds on a quarterly basis.
Your Board of Trustees believes the People for People Fund is a project that really makes a difference. It will be a success because of you, the members of Carroll Electric Cooperative, Inc.