Nueces Electric Charities

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, Brush Country CASA and more.

Grant Application

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. Applications open on the first Friday of June and close on the 3rd Friday of July

2. Download Grant Application packet here

3.. Complete application via Microsoft Word or handwritten

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

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

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

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

Annual Grant Periods

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

Nueces Electric Charities, Inc. Mission & Funding Guidelines

Nueces Electric Charities, Inc. is dedicated to making a meaningful impact within our communities by allocating funds from the Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) Operation Round Up program. These funds are generously contributed by NEC members and are used to support initiatives in education, health, welfare, and other human services throughout the NEC service territory and neighboring areas.

As outlined in Article 4 of our Articles of Incorporation, Nueces Electric Charities, Inc. was established to distribute Operation Round Up funds exclusively to qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. These funds are intended to support programs and projects that deliver tangible benefits to the communities we serve.

Our goal is to assist as many organizations as possible. We strongly encourage applicants to seek additional funding sources beyond NEC Operation Round Up, such as self-funding or contributions from other organizations. Demonstrating resourcefulness and a mix of funding sources strengthens your proposal and underscores your commitment to the program or project. Please ensure that applications are submitted and approved before the program or project starts.

If your organization has sufficient funds to complete the project independently, we ask that you prioritize using those resources. Financial transparency is vital, so providing detailed financial information enables us to better assess your organization’s priorities and fiscal health. Each application will undergo a thorough review for eligibility and will be evaluated alongside other requests, considering the funds available.

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

We are honored to collaborate with charitable organizations that share our passion for making a difference. Together, we strive to foster positive change in the communities we call home.

Grant Applications Submission Instructions

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

2. Complete the Application: Please ensure that you complete the entire application and submit all required documents in the specified order, accompanied by the necessary proof of information. The following documents must be merged with the completed (pages 4-6) 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)
Completed Form W-9
Completed Request for Banking Information (ACH Authorization) with supporting documents (letter from bank or voided check)

Note: Incomplete submissions or missing documents will result in your application being classified as incomplete. Please make sure that all necessary documents are attached and combined correctly prior to submitting.

3. Merge All Documents: Submit all files in the specified order as one PDF. Separate files will not be accepted. Exclude pages 1-3 of the Grant Application and include only pages 4-6.

4. Submit Your Application Online: When all documents are prepared for submission, please proceed to our Grant Application Online Submission page to finalize the application process as required.

Download W-9 Form here.

Download Banking Information Request Form here.

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 ext. 405

Annual Meeting:

Nueces Electric Charities

Grant Application

Annual Grant Periods

Nueces Electric Charities, Inc. Mission & Funding Guidelines

Grant Applications Submission Instructions

Past Grants

Tax Forms