Guidelines
If your non-profit organization would like to apply for a Roundup for Safety grant to fund a local life safety project, please review these guidelines carefully before submitting an application.
About the Program
Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety program helps identify and address life-safety needs throughout the communities we serve by awarding grants to non-profit organizations for safety-related projects.
The program is funded by participating Co-op members who voluntarily “round up” their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar. Those extra cents are pooled into a community fund dedicated to supporting local safety initiatives.
An independent Board of Directors evaluates all applications and awards grants at its monthly meeting.
Funding decisions are based on:
- Overall project benefit — Why is this project important, and how will it improve community safety?
- Demonstrated community safety need — Why is grant funding needed to complete this project?
- Number of Flathead Electric Cooperative members impacted — Who will benefit from this project, and how many co-op members will be affected?
- Availability of funds — Funding requests typically exceed available funds, so grants are often awarded as partial funding rather than full project funding. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional funding sources or matching support when possible.
To learn more about the program and past applications that were successful, click here.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Roundup for Safety funding, applicants must:
- Be a non-profit organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or another qualifying charitable entity eligible under Section 170(c)
- Serve communities within Flathead Electric Cooperative’s service territory
- Demonstrate a direct connection between the project and improving life safety for community members
Examples of Eligible Projects
Eligible projects may include:
- AEDs and emergency medical equipment
- First responder safety equipment
- Safety fencing, lighting or access improvements
- Public safety education initiatives
- Search and rescue equipment
- Helmet and protective safety gear
- Accessibility and injury-prevention improvements
Projects must demonstrate a direct connection to improving community safety.
Funding Restrictions
Roundup for Safety funds may not be used for:
- Political activities
- Salaries or wages
- Travel expenses
- Rolling stock (vehicles, boats, trailers, etc.)
- Projects not directly related to community safety
Additional funding limitations include:
- Maximum funding per organization: $12,000 per calendar year
- Organizations sharing the same tax ID may collectively receive no more than $30,000 per calendar year
- Applicants using a shared tax ID must include a support letter from the parent organization (for example, a superintendent, city manager, or similar administrator)
- The Board reserves the right to determine whether applicants are considered separate entities
- AED requests are limited to $1,500 per AED
- Team sports safety gear requests are limited to 25% of the cost of the equipment, up to a maximum of $1,000
Application Requirements
Before beginning the application, please prepare the following materials:
- Two bids or quotes for each item requested
- Description of other financial or in-kind support for the project
- IRS Tax ID Number (FEIN)
- IRS determination letter verifying tax-exempt status. To obtain a copy, click here.
Incomplete applications may delay consideration.
Reminder: You must apply for funding before beginning a project.
Application Timeline
Applications are reviewed monthly.
To be considered at a given month’s board meeting, applications must be submitted by the last day of the previous month.
Applications submitted after the deadline will roll into the following month’s review cycle.
Board meetings are generally held on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., though dates may occasionally vary.
Applicants will receive confirmation and meeting details after the first of the month.
Grant Expiration
Approved funding must be used within 6 months of award notification. Unused funds will return to the general fund, and organizations must reapply for future consideration.
Applicants must successfully finish the project and submit a “Project Completion Form”. Following this, a board member will schedule a final inspection. The grant check is only paid out after the project and inspection are successfully completed.
Applicant Presentations
A representative from your organization must attend the meeting in order for your grant request to be considered. If someone cannot attend, your request will be postponed for a future meeting.
Applicants may attend the board meeting either:
- Virtually via Microsoft Teams, or
- In person at the Flathead Electric Cooperative Community Room, 2510 U.S. Highway 2 East, Kalispell, (North entrance)
Applicants will be invited to provide a brief overview of their project at the beginning of the meeting in the order applications were received. Presentations should be 5 minutes or less, followed by a few questions from Board members if needed.
This is an informal process, and no slide deck or extensive preparation is required. Applicants are welcome to leave after their presentation.
Please note: AI meeting assistants or recording bots (including Otter, Copilot, ChatGPT, etc.) are not permitted during meetings.
Before You Begin Applying
To recap, please have the following materials ready before starting your application:
- IRS tax ID number (FEIN)
- IRS tax-exempt determination letter. To obtain a copy, click here.
- Two bids or quotes for requested items
- Project budget and funding request amount
- Information about other funding sources or matching support
- Support letter (if applying under a shared tax ID)
Questions?
For assistance with the application process, contact:
Dillon Tabish
Flathead Electric Cooperative Communications & Marketing Supervisor
(406) 751-1820
d.tabish@flathead.coop