2025 Operation Round-Up Grants

FreeState’s Operation Round-Up program has been helping area organizations and communities for nine years. In that time, contributing members have assisted more than 119 organizations with over half a million dollars to make impacts in the communities that we all call home.

Funding for Operation Round-Up is donated by member-owners of FreeState Electric Cooperative who voluntarily round-up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar amount.

The FreeState Foundation Committee facilitates the program with the help of a volunteer member committee. Members on this committee meet to review and award grant monies quarterly.

The volunteer member committee includes: MELINDA HARWOOD, McLouth; MORGAN STARCHER (Murrfield Farms), McLouth; DERON JOHNSON, Silver Lake; WAYNE SYLVESTER, Perry; MISTY STEPHENSON, Lawrence; and CAROL MARPLE, Wakarusa. The committee is looking for potential volunteers. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, please contact the office.

The committee allocations are made possible by the generosity of the members participating in the program. No matter how great or small the act, each time we give back, we strengthen our community. A few extra coins a month can quickly add up to a significant change for our local communities and volunteer-driven organizations across the FreeState service territory.

“It’s so exciting to get the applications and get a peek into the good work planned or already happening in our communities,” said Elizabeth Miller, FreeState’s senior member services representative and Operation Round-Up program coordinator. “It gives our volunteers plenty to consider when distributing funds.”

For more information or to apply for funding, visit WWW.FREESTATE.COOP/ORU. APPLICATION DEADLINES ARE MARCH 1, JUNE 1, SEPT. 1 AND DEC. 1 OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR.

If you would like to opt out (or in) of Operation Round-Up, call our office at 800-794-1989.

In the first three quarters of 2025, Operation Round-Up made donations to nine organizations equaling $37,175. Fourth-quarter awards had not been determined before the press deadline. For a complete list of recipients, visit www.freestate.coop/ORU.

These dollars provided funding to carry out the cooperative principle Concern for Community across FreeState’s nine-county service territory. We sincerely appreciate members who participate in this charitable giving program. We could not do what we do for our communities without you.