Matching Gifts

2005 Matching Gifts: $5,738,390

Supporting community involvement

Supporting employees in their lives outside of work is not only a wonderful way to help them make a difference, but also a tremendous source of pride for our organization. Our employees spend countless hours providing leadership and volunteer services to nonprofit organizations in our communities. Likewise, many of our retirees find themselves putting more energy than ever into their favorite causes, applying lifetimes of experience to serve their communities. Through our Matching Gifts programs, Xcel Energy Foundation recognizes these efforts.

Higher education and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations

The Foundation will match employee donations to nonprofit organizations up to a limit of $500. Donations to higher education are matched up to a limit of $2000. In 2005, employees contributed a combined total of $542,120 to nonprofits and higher education institutions. With the corporate match, these gifts amounted to $1,084,240 in community impact.

Dollars for Doing

The Dollars for Doing program encourages and supports employee volunteerism by making dollar donations for each hour employees volunteer at qualifying nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) status. The Foundation matches up to 100 hours of a participant's collective volunteer time each calendar year at a rate of $5 per hour. In 2005, Xcel Energy Foundation contributed $75,880 to nonprofit organizations in support of 15,176 hours of employee volunteer efforts.

Volunteer Energy

Teams of six or more Xcel Energy employees who participate in a community volunteer program are eligible to participate in the Foundation's Volunteer Energy program. The Foundation will make a donation of $500 to the associated nonprofit organization in appreciation of employee volunteer efforts. In 2005, the Foundation contributed $19,500 to the designated nonprofits of 39 employee volunteer teams.

United Way

Our award-winning United Way campaign shines on many levels, and we are especially proud of the generous pledges of our employees and retirees. With a dollar-for-dollar match from Xcel Energy Foundation, our impact totals more than $4.3 million for 160 United Ways across the nation.

Disaster Relief

The past year brought unprecedented worldwide disasters, from the Southeast Asian tsunami to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Over and above their generous gifts to United Way and other nonprofits, Xcel Energy employees and retirees donated $163,595 to disaster relief organizations. Xcel Energy Foundation matched every dollar.