Fifty cents doesn’t seem like much. But when 88% of Crow Wing Power members round up their electric bill each month, those cents turn into something big.
In 2026, members gave $238,350 to local organizations through Operation Round-Up®. That includes $56,300 awarded this fall to 18 groups doing important work right here in Cass, Crow Wing, and Morrison counties. Since the program started in 1996, members have given $5,378,216 back to our communities.
That’s what neighbors helping neighbors looks like.
How It Works
Each month, participating members have their electric bill rounded up to the next whole dollar. The extra amount averages about 50 cents a month, or about $6 a year. It goes into a fund that stays local.
A Board of Trustees made up of nine Crow Wing Power members, who live across the cooperative’s nine districts, reviews grant applications every three months and decides where the money goes. Members giving to their communities, with members deciding how it’s spent.
Meet This Fall’s Grant Recipients
These 18 organizations received grants this quarter:
- Breath of Life Adult Services
- Deerwood Dance Club
- Essentia Health Foundation
- Immaculate Catholic Church, Crosslake
- Immanuel Lutheran WELCA
- Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity
- LSS Financial Counseling
- Mounted Eagles Therapeutic Horsemanship
- National Loon Foundation
- Pine River-Backus Family Center
- READ (Reading Early Assist Development)
- Relationship Safety Alliance
- Sexual Assault Services
- St. Vincent de Paul
- The Center
- True Friends
- Veteran Valor Farm
- Wreaths for the Fallen
See a group you know? Share this post and give them a shout-out!
Thank You to Three Trustees
Trustees Joan Johnson, Jackson Purfeerst, and Kathleen Stephan are completing their service after two 3-year terms. We’re grateful for the time and thought they gave to this work.
“Since I work for a nonprofit and sit on a few nonprofit boards requesting grant funding, it’s nice to be able to give funds to organizations doing great work,” Stephan said.
“Being a part of this board, I get to see all the good that is happening around our area,” Johnson said. “It’s heartwarming to be a part of the good and to help organizations continue their missions.”
Current trustees are Lori Bender, Liz Dahl, Teri Hoggarth, Joan Johnson, Jackson Purfeerst, Joleen Quisberg, Cassie Roberts, Kathleen Stephan, and Steve Uban.
Know a Group That Could Use a Grant?
Organizations that operate within Crow Wing Power’s service area and serve our members can apply once a year for grants of $500 to $5,000. Application deadlines for 2027 are January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
Applications are available at cwpower.com/operation-round-up. If you’re part of a local group, or know someone who is, pass this along.
Thank you to every member who rounds up. You’re the reason these numbers keep growing.