Powering our communities is part of our mission at TCEC. We stand by the universal cooperative principle of “Concern for Community.” The Operation Round Up program launched in January 2021 to help members support local charitable causes.

Operation Round Up rounds monthly electric bills up to the nearest dollar to fund projects that can make a significant difference in the community. While an individual member’s donation amounts to pocket change each month, the program allows TCEC to collect an average of $6 for each participating meter annually. Together, those donations add up.

Quick Facts

One-hundred percent of your contributions will be donated locally.
Foundation’s fund is managed by a board separate from TCEC.
Participation is automatic and voluntary.
Contact us if you would like to opt out at any time.

The mission of the TCEC Foundation is the accumulation and disbursement of funds for charitable purposes in the service area of Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) including but not limited to Beaver, Texas and Cimarron Counties in Oklahoma, Morton County, Kansas, and Sherman County, Texas. This shall be accomplished by the disbursement of funds to community-based organizations for charitable purposes, educational purposes or emergency services.

Disbursements annually per organization are limited to $5,000. These limits may be increased by a two-thirds vote of the entire Board of Directors of the Foundation.

The Foundation board of directors meets the second Wednesday of the first month of each quarter. Applications received by April 1 will be considered for funding in the meeting on April 13, 2022.

About Operation Round Up® and your participation

Operation Round Up is an ongoing charitable fundraising program to benefit worthwhile community projects. TCEC 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.

One of the cooperative principles is Concern for Community. We feel a strong responsibility to the people in our service territory that goes beyond simply providing reliable, affordable 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.

When the program launched in January 2021, TCEC members were automatically opted-in. Automatic opt-in Operation Round Up programs are more successful with an approximately 80% retention rate. This approach saved marketing dollars over time as well and helped give more back to the communities we serve.

If you have multiple accounts, all of them will be rounded up unless you let us know otherwise. You can opt to have only one account participate or even opt-out completely.

We realize that not everyone is willing or able to participate in the program. You may opt out of the voluntary program. However, if you do not notify us of your decision to opt out, then you will automatically be in the program. You may opt-out at any time in the future if your situation changes or you may opt-back in, as well.

Anyone can withdraw from Operation Round Up® at any time by contacting the TCEC office. Members may receive a refund for up to one year’s contributions.

How funding works

The TCEC Foundation mission states that funds will be disbursed to community-based organizations for charitable purposes, educational purposes, or emergency services in TCEC’s service area. Disbursements may be made to nonprofit, community-based organizations, fire departments and other emergency services, and schools. Funds shall not be used to pay utility bills or go toward political campaigns.

A list of the funds given out will be featured periodically in the member newsletter and there will be an annual report for the fund. Until the funds are distributed, they will be placed in a fund with the TCEC Foundation.

Projects Funded to Date

Dollars donated since January 2021: $69,700.

January 2022

The independent TCEC Foundation Board of Directors met on January 12 and disbursed $23,300 to 12 local organizations that applied for funds in the fourth quarter of 2021. The organizations and programs funded are listed below.

$1,800 to Goodwell HillToppers to replace the carpet in their facility
$1,250 to the Hardesty Fire Department for automated defibrillators
$2,000 to Crossroads for their mentoring program
$3,000 to Cimarron County Food Pantry to replace deep freeze and refrigerator
$1,800 to Turpin Senior Citizens to repair floors
$2,800 to the Boise City Volunteer Firefighters for equipment upgrades
$1,000 to Cimarron County EMS to upgrade EMS office/storage
$500 to the Hooker Animal Shelter for facility renovations
$3,150 to the Balko Fire Department for a new set of FireFlex bunker gear
$2,000 to Guymon Public Schools for their “Full STEAM Ahead!” robotics kit
$1,500 to Learn and Play for new equipment
$2,500 to Goodwell Public Schools for greenhouse supplies

October 2021

The TCEC Foundation is pleased to announce the donations to the following programs as approved at the October 2021 board meeting.

$1,500 to Hooker Fights Hunger for the Hooker food pantry
$3,000 to Artist Incubation to support the Fall Youth Art Camp
$1,600 to Hands for Hope for freezer and bags
$2,100 to Elkhart Senior Citizens Dances
$2,200 to Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains for a camping trailer
$2,500 to Guymon Rotary Club for the third-grade dictionaries project
$2,100 to Morton County Library for outdoor renovations

July 2021

The TCEC Foundation approved donations to the following programs at its July board meeting.

$2,500 to the Guymon Firefighters Club Stop the Bleed program
$500 to the Beaver County Pioneer Library reading program
$1,400 to the Texas County Stock Show cattle scales project
$2,500 to the Beaver FFA Greenhouse project
$2,500 to the Dr. W.F. & Mada Dunaway Manor of Guymon new chiller project
$1,000 to the Texas County Oklahoma Home and Education Group tote bags for foster kids project
$2,100 to the No Man’s Land Museum windows replacement
$1,000 to the Tyrone Senior Citizens meal program
$1,000 to the Texhoma Rotary Club baseball field renovations

April 2021

The TCEC Foundation approved donations to the following programs at its April 2021 board meeting.

$500 to the Beaver Duster Mentoring Program
$2,500 to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
$1,000 to the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains
$1,400 to the Guymon Lions Club
$1,000 to the Hands for Hope Food Pantry
$2,500 to the Hardesty Fire Department
$1,000 to the Hooker Fights Hunger Food Pantry
$1,000 to the Hooker Senior Citizens
$1,000 to the Oaks of Mamre
$2,000 to the Boy Scouts of America
$1,000 to the Boy Scouts Troop 163
$1,000 to the Boy Scouts Troop 3163
$1,000 to the Boy Scouts Troop 4163

Tax deductible status

The TCEC Foundation is a nonprofit organization operated for charitable purposes and funded by the Operation Round Up® program. Please consult the IRS or your tax professional to determine if your donation is deductible.

The member's December billing will include that month's contribution and their total contributions for the year.

TCEC Foundation Board of Directors

This nine-person volunteer board of directors from the TCEC service area reviews the applications and determines the disbursement of funds. Separate from the TCEC board of trustees, this non-paid board evaluates applications made to the program and makes recommendations for issuing of funds. The board operates according to the TCEC Foundation Bylaws.

District 1: Levi Bickford

District 2: Alisha Griffith

District 3: Jill Johnson

District 4: Shelby Roche

District 5: Becky Jett

District 6: Marla Houtz

District 7: Melinda Veres

District 8: Eugene Day

District 9: Whitney Hampton

After you receive funds, here are instructions to report the use of them

If your organization has received funding in the past and needs to submit a report of funds used, click here to complete the online reporting form.

Report Funds Used

Apply for Funds

Contact Name

Organization Name

Phone

Address

Address 2

City/Town

State

ZIP

Federal I.D. Number (EIN)

Organization Purpose

Briefly describe your organization's purpose for someone who may not be familiar with it.

Project

Briefly describe your program or project that requires funding. This is often used as the check's memo line.

Start Date

End Date

Describe how your organization will use any funds received.

Please be specific. Include how your project meets the Foundation's guidelines of disbursing funds for charitable, educational or emergency services purposes.

Describe other sources of funding.

How is your organization funded? What other places have you applied to for funding of this program or project?

Attach any supporting materials that may be helpful.

Maximum 10 files.
100 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, png, bmp, eps, tif, pict, psd, txt, rtf, html, odf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, xml, avi, mov, mp3, ogg, wav, bz2, dmg, gz, jar, rar, sit, svg, tar, zip.

Examples: material or project quotes, itemized breakdown of how the funds will be used, project images, or any other items you may have.

Additional comments or notes

Funds Requested

Limited to $5,000 or less per year unless an exception is approved by the Foundation Board.

Check Needed By

Population Served

Enter the number of people served by your organization or project.

Area Served

Is organization 501c3 exempt?

Is organization an educational institution or municipal entity?

Is organization affiliated with religious organization?

Final report provided by

A final report with photos, videos, receipts or statements showing the use of the funds is required. When will you provide this report?

I understand funds are not to be used for political activities or utility bills.

The information contained in this application is for the purpose of obtaining funding from the TCEC Foundation on behalf of the undersigned. The undersigned understands that the information provided herein is used in deciding to disburse funding and the undersigned represents and warrants that the information provided is true and complete and that TCEC Foundation may consider this application as continuing to be true and correct until a written notice of a change is provided. The TCEC Foundation is authorized to make all inquires they deem necessary to verify the accuracy of the statements made herein. It is understood that all information herein will be kept in the strictest of confidence by the TCEC Foundation Board of Directors. Type your name to indicate your agreement with this statement.

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Operation Round Up