MEA Charitable Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The MEA Charitable Foundation is the grantmaking arm of the Matanuska Electric Association and supports various local nonprofit causes in Alaska.
FUNDING AREAS: Children and youth, basic needs, faith-based organizations, the environment, seniors, recreation, health, animals
IP TAKE: This is an accessible corporate funder that will consider nearly any type of nonprofit need in south-central Alaska.
PROFILE: Established in 2011, the MEA Charitable Foundation is a corporate philanthropy entity affiliated with the Matanuska Electric Association in Palmer, Alaska. This company is the oldest and second-largest electric cooperative in Alaska covering a service area of approximately 4,500 miles of power lines in the south-central portion of the state. Its foundation’s grantmaking is guided by an Operation Roundup system that encourages members to round up their electric bills to facilitate nonprofit grantmaking. Foundation interests include children and youth, basic needs, faith-based organizations, the environment, seniors, recreation, health and animals.
Through Operation Roundup, the foundation awards grants with the help of approximately 40,000 MEA members. It typically gives more than $160,000 each year to nonprofit organizations, as well as to individuals and families in need. Many of the foundation’s grants support projects that impact seniors, veterans, playgrounds, libraries, education, recreation and recycling.
Foundation grants range between $5,000 and $10,000 . Organizational grants are capped at $10,000, while individual grants are capped at $2,500. View a list of past grantees on the funder’s website. Grantmaking centers on the Palmer area of Alaska, south-central Alaska, and various communities in this region. The company has locations that accept grant applications in the Alaska towns of Eagle River, Palmer and Wasilla. In addition to grants, the company offers K-12 energy education presentations, sponsorships for events, and scholarships of $2,000 to $7,500 to students who reside in the MEA service area. MEA also hosts a Christmas lights contest with cash prizes up to $200 for business and residential décor.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits and individuals in the region. Access the application forms online via the funder’s website, and then submit them by mail or in-person. In the past, application deadlines have been awarded around the end of April, July, October, and January. The foundation’s phone number is 907-761-9317, and the main company email address is meacontact@mea.coop.
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