Here’s how Operation Round Up (ORU) works:
If your bill is $75.72, we round it up to $76.00 — with the extra 28¢ going directly to the Operation Round Up® Trust Fund. When combined with the spare change from thousands of generous MVEC members, those pennies add up to a big impact in our local communities.
Since 1995, MVEC’s Operation Round Up has distributed more than $2.6 million to support local fire departments, women’s shelters, youth programs, social services, food shelves, and many other worthwhile causes.
Request ORU funding
Money contributed to Operation Round Up (ORU) is administered by a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation called the Minnesota Valley Electric Trust. The Trust is separate from MVEC and governed by a nine-person, volunteer Board of Directors.
Contributions are generally not made for:
- lobbying, political and religious organizations
- veteran, fraternal, and labor organizations
- fundraising dinners or raffles
- national fund drives
- general operating funds
See the 2nd Quarter recipients of $47,113
| Organization | Purpose of Funds | Amount Distributed |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Heart and Hoofbeats | Port-o-potty rental and cleaning | $1,000 |
| Arts and Heritage Center | 507 Food Share program | $500 |
| Aspire Artisan Studios & Folk School | Materials for hand art classes | $500 |
| Belle Plaine Backpack Program | Backpack program | $500 |
| Belle Plaine Historical Society | New display cases for historical materials | $2,000 |
| Bountiful Basket Food Shelf | Food | $500 |
| Bountiful Basket Food Shelf | Raised garden beds and trellises | $1,300 |
| Brainpower in a Backpack | Backpack program | $500 |
| Burnsville HS Hall of Fame | Graduation event | $300 |
| Campfire MN | Summer camp scholarships | $1,000 |
| Cannonville Community Church | Backpack program | $500 |
| Carver Schott Humane Society | Spay/neuter kits for in-house program | $1,500 |
| Central Elementary School | Backpack program | $500 |
| Central Elementary School | Nature center field trip | $277 |
| City of Lonsdale | Founder’s Festival expenses | $500 |
| Cleveland Fire Department | Replace ice rescue equipment | $1,000 |
| Cologne Academy | End of year field trip | $1,000 |
| Elko New Market Fire Department | Safety Camp | $1,180 |
| Elko New Market Shop with a Hero | Shopping and food expenses | $1,000 |
| Every Meal | Food | $500 |
| Foster Adopt Minnesota | Back to school shopping | $2,000 |
| Glendale Elementary PTC | Custom communication board | $2,000 |
| Green Isle Lions | Community Connect Meal | $500 |
| Hope for the Community | Food | $500 |
| Jordan Area Food Shelf | Food | $500 |
| Jordan Middle School | Supplies, busing and training for WEB program | $2,030 |
| Lakers Alano Society, Inc. | Purchase AED | $1,600 |
| Le Center Chamber of Commerce | Community Celebration expenses | $500 |
| Let’s Go Fishing – Scott Co. | Fishing expenses | $2,000 |
| Lonsdale Area Food Shelf | Food | $500 |
| New Prague Area Schools | Replace two AEDs | $2,000 |
| Most Holy Redeemer | Field trip transportation | $492 |
| Prior Lake HS Unified Club | Purchase multi-sport jerseys for sports | $1,500 |
| Prior Lake/Savage Graduation Celebration | Event costs | $250 |
| Rice Co. Historical Society | Riverside Rendezvous Festival materials | $1,000 |
| Rotary Club of Le Sueur | Backpack program | $500 |
| Saint John the Baptist Catholic School | Field trip transportation | $784 |
| Scott Co. Public Safety Foundation | New shirts and giveaway items | $2,000 |
| Shakopee Community Education | Mi Casa Summer Camp | $1,000 |
| Shakopee Crime Prevention Inc. | Recovery assistance program | $1,500 |
| Pearson Early Learning Center | Books and toothbrushes at Early Childhood Screening | $1,000 |
| Sibley Co. Agricultural Assc. | Upgrades to horse barn stalls | $2,000 |
| Sibley County Foodshare | Food | $500 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace | Purchase lumber, mattresses & bedding | $2,000 |
| Spots Last Stop Inc. | New raised dog beds and security cameras | $600 |
| U of M Master Gardener Program | New raised garden beds, signage & transportation | $1,800 |
| Total distributions this quarter: $47,113.00 |
Deadlines to apply are 4 p.m. on the last day of January, April, July, and October.
Trustee Board Members
- Connie Meeker of Green Isle
- Diana Brenke of Belle Plaine
- Dwayne Glenn of Lakeville
- Jamie Paget of Savage
- Jeanne Zwart of Elysian
- Jill Sims of Savage
- John Miller of Henderson
- Mary Krentz of Henderson
- Mike Stapf of Prior Lake
ORU Board seeking trustee in District 1
MVEC’s Operation Round Up program has an opening for a member trustee in District 1, which covers Credit River, New Market, Savage and Spring Lake townships. Trustees meet quarterly — February, May, August, and November — to review requests and grant awards. Trustees are responsible for reviewing assigned grant applications before each meeting. Preference given to those who reply by April 15, 2026.
MVEC Trust Board (ORU) Director Profile
Examples of ORU grant recipients
