Foundation Guidelines

Funds available to the Sumter EMC Foundation, Inc. are raised through members allowing their monthly electric bills to be rounded up to the next whole dollar. The extra change is collected and awarded by a Board of Trustees for worthy community projects. The following guidelines will help in understanding how these funds are awarded. 

• The Foundation does not provide grants to individuals and religious organizations (see footnote1), nor does it fund political campaigns or causes. 
• Projects must be located in or serve populations of the Sumter EMC eleven county service area (Chattahoochee, Dougherty, Lee, Marion, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, and Webster). 
• An organization receiving a grant may be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, but such tax-exempt status is not required to receive funding. Funding for proposed projects that otherwise qualify for funds will not be disallowed because the organization receiving the funds and undertaking the project may be an incidental beneficiary of the project. The Foundation's determination regarding compliance with this guideline shall be final, subject only to the decisions of the Sumter EMC Board of Directors. 
• The Foundation prefers to support specific programs and capital campaigns on a prospective basis instead of funding a project that has already been completed. 
• Preference will be given to projects in counties where the funds are collected. 
• To maintain flexibility in giving, the Foundation does not provide multiyear funding commitments. 
• The foundation does not award funds for pageants, field trips, and athletic or academic tournaments. 
• Grant requests must be reviewed and approved by the Foundation board, which meets in January, May, and September each year. Proposals for board consideration should be submitted one month before the respective board meetings. All grant applicants will be notified within ten days of the Board's decision. 
• Organizations may make an application once per 12-month period and may reapply on an annual basis. Applications must be made using the latest published application (approved 1/20/2015). Click here for approved application form.
• A public or private school system (K-12), university or college must apply as an organization representing all its schools or departments no more than once a year. The Superintendent (for grades K-12) or President (for a university or college) must sign the application, or a letter of support signed by the Superintendent or President must accompany the application. 

Grant Considerations

Grant awards typically range from $500 to $5,000. The amount awarded is based on several factors. Some key elements include:

• The number of individuals who will benefit from the project. ($ per individual) 
• Favor giving to projects with lasting value over projects of short-term value. 
• Indications of community-wide support and involvement. 
• Organizations that demonstrate the managerial and financial capacity to implement and complete the project. 
• Credible evidence of the organization's ability to sustain the project beyond the duration of the grant. 
• Whether or not regional or national funds support the organization or project. 
• A clear statement of the project or organization's purpose. 
• Stability of organizational finances. 
• The relationship between the scale of the project budget and the size of the organization's annual operating budget. 
• The impact of full or partial funding. (Partial funding is given once the total amount is pledged.) 

1 – While the Foundation is not authorized to provide grants or funds to a particular religious organization, group, or denomination, community- related projects which are determined by the Foundation to be consistent with the bylaws, purposes and objectives of the Foundation will receive funding consideration, even where such projects are to be conducted by a religious organization, if the Foundation determines that such project is to be conducted by the sponsor for a secular or non-religious purpose or undertaking. Any funds provided in such cases must in no way impact the budgets of the sponsoring religious organization.

Trustees & Meeting Schedule

Sumter EMC Foundation Trustees and Meeting Schedule

The Sumter EMC Foundation is administered by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Sumter EMC Board of Directors. To be eligible to serve on the Foundation board, a trustee must be a member, or the spouse of a member, of Sumter EMC, as well as a recognized leader in his or her community. Trustees are appointed on a rotation basis to serve 2-year terms. 

2025 Meeting Schedule

• January 21
• May 20
• September 16

Grant Applications must be received in the Americus office 30 days before the Trustees meeting. Applicants may be requested to attend the meeting to answer questions about their grant request. You will be notified before the meeting if you should attend. All applications must be considered completely.

Foundation Award Recipients 

The Sumter EMC Foundation, Inc. is funded entirely by Sumter EMC’s Operation Round Up® program members. Below is a complete list of the award recipients and the amount of each grant. See how the small change of participants makes a big difference in our local communities.