The Beltrami Electric Cooperative Trust Board for Operation Round Up® met in October and awarded grants to 25 area nonprofit and community organizations totaling $41,268. Many local programs and non-profit organizations benefit from Operation Round Up®, a charitable program unique to electric cooperatives.

The Trust Board members are Kay Mack, Miriam Osborn-Dougherty, Sharon Hadrava and Jean Diffley.

Organizations receiving grants included: Aurora Waasakone Community of Learners, Bemidji Area Cross Country Ski Club, Bemidji ECFE Parent Advisory Council, Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, Bi-County Community Action Programs, Blackduck Area Kids Ice Fishing Derby, Blackduck Area Senior Center, Blackduck Area Toys for Kids, Blackduck Chamber of Commerce (Glow in the Snow), Camp Oak Hills, Deeper Life Bible Camp, Headwaters Science Center, Lincoln Elementary School – grade 3, Lutheran Social Service of MN (Meals on Wheels), Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society, Northern Beltrami Heritage Center, Northland Summer Kickoff, Northwoods Caregivers, Peacemaker Resources, Red Lake Nation College-Medweganoonind Library, Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue, Society of St. Vincent de Paul-St. Philip’s Conference, Unbridled Ranch, United Way of Bemidji Area. 

The program is designed to give cooperative members a means of working together to use their small change to make a big impact on their local communities, with 100% of member contributions going to local projects. Project categories for organizations applying for grants from Operation Round Up® must fit into one or more of the following: Community Service, Economic Development, Education & Youth, and Environment. To date, Beltrami Electric's Operation Round Up program has awarded grants to 593 projects totaling $731,252.