In a major initiative to support local communities, the LPEA Round Up Foundation Board has allocated grants totaling approximately $146,898 to 48 non-profit organizations within La Plata and Archuleta counties for the year 2023. This funding is a part of the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to enhance the quality of life in these areas.
Round Up Grants are made possible by the generosity of LPEA members, who choose to round up their electric bill each month to the next highest dollar. Approximately 16,888 LPEA members donated $87,516 to the Foundation in 2023. Each month $5,000 in Unclaimed Capital Credits totaling $60,000 annually is also allocated by the LPEA Board of Directors to support Educational Grants.
Recipients of the 2023 Round Up grants (in alphabetical order) were:
- Archuleta Seniors, Inc.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado
- Boy Scout Troop 538
- Calvary Presbyterian Church
- Durango 9-R Food and Nutrition
- Durango Area Youth Hockey Association
- Durango Arts Center
- Durango Baseball & Softball
- Durango Rocky Mountain Swimming
- Durango Trails
- Durango Wrestling Club
- Fort Lewis College Athletics
- Fort Lewis College Foundation
- Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center
- Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County
- KUTE, Inc
- La Plata Open Space Conservancy
- Music in the Mountains, Inc.
- People Improving Communities and Kids Foundation
- Region 9 Economic Development Dist. of SW CO
- Riverview Christian Fellowship
- San Juan Symphony Chamber Singers
- Seed Studio
- Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable
- TARA Historical Society
- The Powerhouse
- Veterans for Veterans of Archuleta County
Recipients of the 2023 Educational grants (in alphabetical order) were:
- Archuleta Seniors, Inc.
- Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County
- Dancing Spirit, Inc.
- Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering Inc
- Durango High School
- Durango High School Parent Teacher Organization
- Durango Instrumental Music Booster Club (DIMBC)
- Durango Montessori School
- DURANGO PLAYFEST
- Kute, Inc, DBA KSUT Public Radio
- Local First Foundation
- Miller Middle School Durango 9-R SD
- Pagosa Community Initiative
- Pine River Shares/Community Foundation Serving SW CO
- San Juan BOCES
- San Juan Symphony
- Stillwater Music
- The Powerhouse
- Upper San Juan Search and Rescue
- Wildfire Adapted Partnership
- Women’s Resource Center in Durango
A percentage of Round Up Foundation funds is distributed to community assistance programs each year. In 2023, the Round Up Foundation allocated approximately $29,544 to the Community Emergency Assistance Coalition and $9,808 to the Pagosa Outreach Connection to provide families and individuals with emergency assistance funds.
Grants are available to registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in La Plata and Archuleta counties and usually range from $500 to $5,000. Application forms are available online at lpea.coop/grant-programs.
LPEA members wishing to round up their bill can sign up on SmartHub or at lpea.coop/round-foundation. The average LPEA member contribution is just $6.00 annually. Members can also elect to donate more each month if they would like to contribute additional money to local non-profits automatically.