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About Nueces Electric Charities, Inc.

Making Change That Matters: How NEC Supports Our Community

Ever heard the saying, "Every penny counts"? At Nueces Electric Cooperative, we take that to heart—turning hundreds of thousands of pennies into meaningful contributions that make a difference in Coastal Bend communities.

Through Operation Round-Up, our members voluntarily "round up" their electric bills to the nearest dollar. That spare change is pooled into a non-profit fund called Nueces Electric Charities, Inc. Over time, these small contributions add up to big impacts, enabling us to support incredible community projects, like the life-saving HALO-Flight air ambulance service.

The best part? Members donate less than 99 cents per month per account—averaging just $6 a year. Yet, these small gestures collectively fund significant grants to charitable organizations within our member communities.

Thanks to the generosity of our members, Nueces Electric Charities helps non-profits address important local needs and improve the quality of life for everyone. Together, we’re creating a brighter future—one penny at a time. Nueces Electric Charities has supported a variety of organizations including South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind, The Junior League of Corpus Christi, Mission of Mercy, Corpus Christi Education Foundation, HALO-Flight, CASA of the Coastal Bend, Agape Ranch, Camp Aranzazu, Family Counseling Service, Foster Angels of South Texas Foundation, Coastal Bend Community Foundation, and The Women’s Shelter of South Texas.

The role of the Nueces Electric Charities, Inc. regarding the Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) Operation Round Up Fund is to make the best use of the funds entrusted to us to support activities within the NEC service territory and nearby communities, and to be sure that whatever gifts we make are handled wisely.

As stated in Article 4 of its Articles of Incorporation, “Nueces Electric Charities, Inc. was organized to distribute funds, voluntarily contributed to Nueces Electric Cooperative, Inc. from its members under Operation Round Up, to other 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide direct educational, health, welfare, and other human services within the service area of Nueces Electric Cooperative, Inc.”

Because we wish to help as many organizations as possible, we encourage you to seek funding from more than just the NEC Operation Round Up Fund. We will not penalize you for doing that; in fact, when we see that you have been resourceful – that is, your organization is willing to put some of its own money into a program/project, and has received or is working on receiving support from other organizations as well – that lends strength to your proposal. Applications for a particular new or one-time program or project must be submitted and approved BEFORE the programs/projects have begun.

If your organization has funds to complete this program/project without our assistance, we assume you will fund it yourselves. Because it helps us to understand the priorities and financial health of an organization, we ask you to provide the requested financial information. Once we have received a request, it will be screened for eligibility and evaluated against other applications received, in terms of available Operation Round Up funds.

The Nueces Charities Board of Directors is free to support, question or deny any request. Once the board has approved a request for funds, payment will be issued to the organization within 30 days. If your organization is not selected, you may re-apply no sooner than one year to be reconsidered for the same program/project.

Directions for applying for a grant application:

1. Download Grant Application packet here                                                          

2. Complete application via Microsoft Word or handwritten

3. If handwritten, scan your application onto your computer to be submitted online

4. If completed in Microsoft Word, save the completed application and merge with all other legal documents

5. You must have all documents merged in Adobe Acrobat to become one document to be submitted

6. When you are ready to submit, visit our Grant Application Online Submission page

Application Period: Applications Open on the first Friday of June; Applications Close on the 3rd Friday of July

Board Action: 4th Tuesday of August (Date may be subject to change; generally, aligns with the regular meeting of the Nueces Electric Cooperative Board of Directors)

Emergency Requests:
In cases of critical health, safety, or human welfare needs, Nueces Electric Charities may review application requests outside of the regular schedule.

Primary/Priority Areas of Consideration

Grant projects and programs addressing the following areas will receive priority consideration:

  • Education
  • Health
  • Welfare
  • Human Services

At Nueces Electric Charities, Inc., our mission is to make a meaningful impact in our communities by thoughtfully distributing funds from the Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) Operation Round Up program. These contributions are generously provided by NEC members and are used to support educational, health, welfare, and other human service initiatives within the NEC service territory and nearby areas.

Per Article 4 of our Articles of Incorporation, Nueces Electric Charities, Inc. was established to distribute Operation Round Up funds to qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. These funds directly support impactful programs and projects that benefit the communities we serve.

We aim to assist as many organizations as possible, and we encourage applicants to seek additional funding sources beyond NEC Operation Round Up. Demonstrating resourcefulness—whether through self-funding, contributions from other organizations, or a combination of both—strengthens your proposal and shows your organization's commitment to the program or project. Please note that applications must be submitted and approved before the program or project begins.

If your organization has the necessary funds to complete the project without assistance, we ask that you prioritize using those resources. Transparency is key, and providing detailed financial information helps us better understand your organization's priorities and financial health. Each request will be thoroughly reviewed for eligibility and evaluated alongside other applications based on the funds available.

The Nueces Electric Charities Board of Directors has full discretion to approve, question, or deny requests. For approved applications, payments will be issued within 30 days. If your request is not selected, you are welcome to reapply for the same program or project after one year.

We are proud to partner with charitable organizations that are committed to making a difference. Together, we can continue to create positive change in the communities we call home.

Directions for Submitting a Grant Application:

1. Download the Grant Application Packet: Access the packet here. 

2. Complete the Application: You may fill out the application using Microsoft Word or by handwriting it.

3. For Handwritten Applications: Scan your completed application onto your computer to prepare it for online submission.

4. For Microsoft Word Applications: Save the completed application and combine it with all required legal documents.

5. Merge All Documents: Use Adobe Acrobat to merge the application and supporting documents into a single PDF file for submission.

6. Submit Your Application: Once your documents are ready, visit our Grant Application Online Submission page to complete the submission process.

Ensure all required documents are included and merged properly before submission. Thank you!

  1. Required Documentation:
    The following documents must be merged with the completed Grant Application:
    • A one-page budget for the amount requested, with justifications
    • Proof of 501(c)(3) status with the IRS
    • A copy of the most recent balance sheet and income statement
    • Current organizational budget (if unavailable, please provide an explanation)
  1. Download the Grant Application:
    Visit the Grant Application page to access the application form
  1. Complete the Application:
    • Fill out the application in Microsoft Word or by hand
    • If handwritten, scan the completed application to your computer for submission
  1. Document Merging:
    • If completed in Microsoft Word, save the application
    • Merge the application with all required legal documents (listed above) into a single document using Adobe Acrobat
  1. Submit the Application:

*Note:

    • Paper applications will not be accepted by mail
    • All applicants must apply via the online submission process to be considered
    • Incomplete applications will not be considered due to the time required for follow-up
  2. Deadlines:
    • Applications submitted after the deadline must be resubmitted during next year's specified review period for consideration

For Questions:

Please direct any questions regarding the application or submission process to:

Joanna Prado, PHR

Human Resources and Corporate Communications Manager

Nueces Electric Cooperative

Local: 361-767-7338

IRS Forms 990s:  2017 2018 2019 2023