Economic Sustainability Focus Area Grants

The Xcel Energy Foundation works to assist communities in developing economic opportunities for all citizens. Our Economic Sustainability focus area grants target programs which assist individuals in obtaining employment, that create jobs and that help individuals become economically self-sufficient. In 2009, Xcel Energy Foundation granted $1,081,200 to programs that support economic sustainability across our service territory.

Programs in the following areas are preferred:

• Programs that promote economic self-sufficiency with an emphasis on job creation and workforce readiness;
• Transitional housing programs which provide educational employment, and job placement services for low-income populations;
• Programs which promote personal skill development, including job entry skills and retraining of unemployed and underemployed workers;
• Community development projects that seek to improve the economic well-being and sustainability for a community targeting underserved populations.

Grants awarded in 2009.

Funding Restrictions

The following are ineligible to receive grant funding from the Xcel Energy Foundation:

• Organizations that are not designated 501(c)(3) by the IRS
• Programs outside of Xcel Energy’s regulated service area
• Individuals
• Political parties or national organizations
• Religious, political, veterans fraternal or other fraternal organizations
• Research programs or government agencies
• Endowment campaigns
• Capital projects/campaigns
• Energy efficiency projects or improvements
• Individual K-12, public, private or religious schools
• Athletic or scholarship competitions or sports and athletic programs
• Benefits or fundraising activities
• Programs of individual organizations that receive more than 50 percent of their program budget from the United Way
• Disease-specific organizations
• Multi-year commitments