Community Development

Xcel Energy-Community Affairs supports Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

When people are actively involved in improving the quality of life in their neighborhoods, they help to create more vibrant, livable communities. Xcel Energy Foundation works to assist communities to develop a healthier, stronger society that is able to provide safe, affordable housing and economic opportunities for all citizens.

The foundation’s Community Development focus area targets programs that address low-to-moderate-income populations and historically disadvantaged or underrepresented groups.

Xcel Energy Foundation is committed to funding programs throughout communities in our service area.

Xcel Energy's WomenBuild Project

Sixteen volunteers from Xcel Energy participated in the WomenBuilt Project, which was coordinated by Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity . Xcel Energy-Community Affairs sponsored the WomenBuild volunteer project, handling project coordination and recruitment of volunteers. The all women team received on-site training and participated in all aspects of home construction-from framing to landscaping-in a supportive and empowering environment. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, in partnership with WomenVenture and its Jobs in the Trades program, presented the WomenBuild 2007 project this summer. As the seventh WomenBuild project in the Twin Cities, the event provided the opportunity for hundreds of women from all walks of life to come together as volunteers and build an affordable home for a low-income family in Minneapolis.

In 2006, Xcel Energy Foundation committed $1,241,300 to programs that support community development across our service territory.

Grants awarded in: 2006  2005  2004  2003  2002.

Programs in the following areas are preferred:

• Affordable housing programs or projects that:
  1. Increase opportunities for affordable homeownership; programs with an educational component on how to maintain a property;
  2. Increase rental opportunities for low-to-moderate-income populations, including transitional and supportive housing services; and
  3. Provide accessible housing for people with special needs; and
  4. Help make housing affordable by reducing the impact of energy costs to low-income, elderly and special needs customers through energy assistance and conservation/energy efficiency.
• Community development projects that seek to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community, such as programs that create, attract, or retain business; increase the quality of life; and promote diversity. 
• Programs that make economic self-sufficiency a viable option for low-income populations; with an emphasis on job creation.

Apply for a grant for community development using our online grant application process.

For answers to specific questions, please e-mail the Xcel Energy Foundation.