Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association was formed in 1937.
Operation Round Up
More than 80 percent of Wright-Hennepin's members participate in Operation Round Up (ORU). ORU serves local communities by donating more than $100,000 annually and more than $2.4 million since its inception in 1994 to local civic organizations and worthy causes. The money is put into a trust fund, which is administered by a trust board appointed by the cooperative's elected board of directors.
ORU funds are given to local civic organizations and worthy causes through an application and selection process. A trust board uses special guidelines and policies in choosing recipients. To decline participation in ORU, members need to notify Wright-Hennepin about their choice.
Operation Round Up funds have been used to help:
- Youth organizations
- Food shelves
- Libraries
- Local environmental projects
- The physically and mentally challenged
- Local police and fire departments by providing life-saving equipment
Are you interested in applying for ORU funding?
Questions? Click here to contact us by e-mail
Application deadlines:
- Feb. 1
- Apr. 1
- June 1
- Aug. 1
- Oct. 1
- Nov. 20
Note: These dates are consistent each year.
Donations may not be earmarked to any one group because all money donated must go into ORU’s general fund for grants.
Operation Round Up Board:
The ORU trust board operates independently of the cooperative’s board of directors and evaluates funding requests to be distributed on a regular basis. Each of the trust board representatives is appointed by Wright-Hennepin’s member-elected board of directors. There is one representative selected from each of the cooperative’s voting districts. Meetings are generally held bi-monthly. In order for an application to be reviewed, it must be submitted two weeks prior to board meetings.
Additional Donations and Bequests:
Members who would like to make additional donations to the program may do so. Checks can be made payable to the “Wright-Hennepin Charitable Trust” and can be sent to: Operation Round Up, Lisa Zipp, c/o Wright-Hennepin; PO Box 330; Rockford, Minn. 55373.
Some members have also expressed interest in bequests to the program in wills. This is an excellent way to ensure money is used for local programs. Contact your attorney for further details about how to make arrangements for this.