| Resource Type | Website |
| Author / Source | Palmetto Electric Cooperative |
| Publication Date | Ongoing |
| Location | Framework applicable nationally |
| Initiative Type | Program |
| Project Complexity | Beginner |
| Recommended For | Board, Staff |
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
Operation Round Up is the original bill round-up program. Palmetto Electric Cooperative created it in 1989, and more than 350 co-ops have since adopted it. Members' bills round up to the next dollar, and the spare change funds local grants for people and community groups.
For a co-op looking to put the seventh cooperative principle, Concern for Community, into practice, this page offers both a proven model and the path to start. Palmetto holds the registered trademark and shares it with co-ops that request permission, so a board can move from interest to launch without designing a program from scratch.
Key Takeaways
| › | Small change adds up: nearly 86% of Palmetto members participate, and its trust has granted more than $11 million since 1989. |
| › | A volunteer trust board, picked by co-op directors from their own districts, decides grants. This keeps giving separate from co-op operations. |
| › | Requirements are light: board approval, a signed license agreement, and a commitment that no funds go to political purposes. |
| › | Co-ops set their own bylaws, grant priorities, and promotion. Plan on about six months to launch. |
| › | Palmetto shares the program with any co-op that asks. See the start-up details and FAQ for more information. |
Implementation Considerations
- Regulatory or Governance Considerations: A co-op needs Palmetto's written permission, stating the program is for charitable purposes, before using the trademarked name. Palmetto then mails a license to complete and return. The start-up details and FAQ explain how to ask. Co-ops also need a structure to hold and award funds, such as a trust or foundation with its own bylaws and volunteer board.
- Staffing or Technology Requirements: The billing system must support automatic round-ups, and staff time is needed for applications, the trust board, and member communication. Smaller co-ops can borrow bylaws and forms from peers already running the program.
- Time-Sensitive Information: Participation rates, grant totals, and the count of adopting co-ops reflect the page as of October 2026 and will change over time.
Notable Examples
- Palmetto Electric Cooperative: Founded the program in 1989 and licenses the trademarked name to other co-ops. Start-up details and FAQ.
- Palmetto Electric Trust: Volunteer board that reviews applications from individuals and organizations in southern Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties six times a year, and also funds scholarships and teacher grants.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
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