Education Focus Area Guidelines

An exhibit funded by Xcel Energy Foundation arouses the curiosity of young minds at the Sioux Falls Pavilion in South Dakota.

We support nonprofit math, science and economic education programs for students from kindergarten through college. In 2009, Xcel Energy Foundation committed $1,067,800 to supporting education across our service territory.

Programs in the following areas are preferred:

• Nonprofit programs that enrich and improve student performance in math and science, in combination with core academic curriculum;
• Scholarship endowments focused on mathematics, science, technical or environmental areas of study;
• Community education programs that provide students with economic education and practical business/technical skills to compete effectively in the job market;
• Nonprofit programs to support district, state and/or national educational standards in math and science;
• Programs involving participation and partnership among students, educators, business and nonprofit entities, which promote student participation in math and science curricula.

Grants awarded in 2009.

Apply for an Environment focus area grant focus area grant using our online grant application process.

For answers to specific questions, please contact your state's Foundation representative.

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