Jackson EMC Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Jackson EMC Foundation is a corporate funder that supports basic needs, human services, children and youth, education, and housing and homelessness in Northeast Georgia.
IP TAKE: This electric company foundation has more money to spend that many others in the region. Pitch an idea that addresses immediate needs in Northeast Georgia.
PROFILE: The Jackson EMC Foundation is the grantmaking arm of the Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, a company that provides electricity to residents of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1938, the company charges a $5 membership and serves over 220,000 meters. The company established this foundation “to represent the members of Jackson EMC and award the funds collected through Operation Round Up for charitable purposes.” Grantmaking interests include basic needs, human services, children and youth, education, and housing and homelessness.
The Jackson EMC Foundation awards grants through an Operation RoundUp program that involves voluntary donations by customers who round up the amount of their power bills. All Jackson EMC members have the opportunity to participate in the charitable program, and the average annual contribution is $6 per member. One hundred percent of this money benefits charitable needs in the 10 counties in which Jackson EMC operates electricity services. Grants only fund program support. The foundation will also consider requests for disaster or medical-related emergencies, as well as for awareness and advocacy in its grant cycles.
Foundation grants tend to range from $2,500 to $10,000. Individual grant awards are limited to $5,000, and organization grant requests are limited to $20,000. These maximum limits have increased recently. Grant seekers can view a list of past grantees and amounts received in the funder’s online database. In a past grant cycle, the board of directors approved $94 million in total grants. Past grantees include the Hall County Library System, the Gainesville Housing Corporation, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Gainesville/Hall Community Food Pantry. To be eligible for a Jackson EMC Foundation grant, a nonprofit must serve one of these 10 Georgia counties: Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, and Oglethorpe.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant requests from local nonprofits. To apply for a grant, nonprofits should print and complete the application form provided on the foundation website or complete it online and then print out the completed form to submit via mail. The board meets monthly and accepts applications at all times. Grant seekers can expect to wait up to three or four months to have their request processed due to the high volume of requests. Direct general questions to the attention of Lori Worley at jemcfouncation@jacksonemc.com or 706-367-6295 ext. 2.
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