Community Fund Program at Washington Electric Co-op

Community Fund

What is the WEC Community Fund?

Washington Electric Co-op annually makes modest contributions to local non-profit organizations and community projects. As a cooperative, our owners are our customers. In order to not pay for such contributions from WEC's operating budget, WEC asks its members to voluntarily donate their capital credit refunds to the WEC Community Fund. (Members choosing not to participate in the Community Fund receive their refunds in November.)

For more information about capital credit refunds and WEC's annual Equity Distribution Plan, see Capital Credits or Equity Distribution Plan.

History of the Fund

To fulfill the Cooperative's philosophy of "concern for community" as reflected in the principles adopted in 1995 by the International Cooperative Alliance, the Board of Directors established the Community Fund in 2003. In 2006 over 1,900 Washington Electric Co-op members/former members chose to contribute their capital credit refunds to the Community Fund. The total of these contributions were approximately $29,500. Fifty-three percent of these members chose to donate their capital credits to the fund for 2006 as well as for all future years.

Contributing to the Community Fund

WEC uses a variety of means to contact members to see if they wish to contribute their capital credit refund to the Community Fund.

Any member not contacted may donate to the Community Fund by submitting an interest sheet or by contacting us by email or telephone. We will forward an authorization form with the amount of the available capital credit refund. The form should only be returned if a member chooses to donate.

Annual Report of Community Fund Activities

For a report on the 2003 - 2007 Community Fund activities, including a list of organizations and community projects that received support, see 2003 Contribution Summary, 2004 Contribution Summary, 2005 Contribution Summary, 2006 Contribution Summary, 2007 Contribution Summary, 2008 Contribution Summary or contact the Co-op office.

Applying for Donations and Eligibility

Contributions shall be made only to organizations submitting requests in writing. Such requests shall state the name and location of the organization or activity, the purpose of the contribution, and the means by which the Cooperative will be recognized.

Recipient organizations must either be incorporated as a non-profit or be a unit of local government. They must be financially viable and broadly supported in the communities they serve. Consideration shall be given to assuring that communities and activities throughout the Cooperative's territory benefit from such support. Contributions will not be made to religious or political organizations or organizations primarily engaged in advocacy issues.

As a membership organization and as a business, it is in the Cooperative's interest to be recognized by our members and communities for such support. Accordingly, organizations receiving such support should have an appropriate means for recognizing the Cooperative.

Contribution decisions are made monthly based on Policy 6 which has been adopted by the
Board of Directors.