Focus Area Grants
Through our focus area grants, we support nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that improve science, technology, economic and math;education, improve and enhance the natural environment; help individuals achieve; economic self-sufficiency, and that provide access to; arts and culture. Proposals outside of the environmental focus area, but which have an environmental component will receive added consideration. In addition, we will look for opportunities to partner with organizations that share our commitment of promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion. In 2009, we contributed $3.8 million in focus area grants to organizations across our service territory.
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
Applying to the Xcel Energy Foundation is a two-step process. Interested 501(c)(3) organizations may submit an online Letter of Intent (LOI) by the deadline for the appropriate focus area. After careful review, applicants are notified whether or not they have been selected to submit a full proposal through the online system. Funding decisions are made without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation or national origin.
