The Sierra Pacific Foundation

THE POWER OF GIVING

Download a PDF Version of Corporate Contribution Guidelines

Sierra Pacific Power is a subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources (SPR), an investor–owned corporation whose operating subsidiaries are engaged in energy and utility services. Through the Sierra Pacific Resources Foundation, Sierra Pacific distributes charitable contributions throughout its northern Nevada and northeastern California service area.

The Foundation supports Sierra Pacific’s philanthropic efforts and those of its employees. Through direct grants, scholarships, and volunteerism, the Foundation actively supports improvements in the quality of life in the communities Sierra Pacific serves. Recipients of Foundation grants must be nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status from the IRS and be located within our service territory.

Grants are focused in six philanthropic areas covering Education, the Environment, Health and Human Services, Youth, Civic, and Arts and Multi–Cultural. For 2006, we encourage grants with a special focus. All grant requests that meet the Sierra Pacific Foundation guidelines will be considered. However, grants that fulfill this special 2006 focus will be given extra consideration:

2007 Foundation Focus

Four key focus areas

Environment

Preserving: air, water, land, wildlife, open space, parks, trails, and the natural environment
Waste recycling

Energy Conservation/Renewable Energy

Providing opportunity for conservation initiatives that will return long term utility cost savings to organizations
Encouraging the development and use of renewable energy technology

Education

Enhancing educational opportunity
Workforce preparation programs

Serving Vulnerable or Under-Served Groups

At risk youth
Seniors
People with disabilities
Multi-Cultural groups
Contributing to workforce development
Supporting rural economic development

FOUNDATION PHILOSOPHY

The Foundation is committed to supporting the diverse communities in which Sierra Pacific Power operates. We take this commitment very seriously by actively participating in community involvement in three ways — philanthropy, civic leadership and volunteerism. Giving back to the communities in which we operate makes them better places to live and work,and in turn makes them better places to do business.

We support our local communities through financial contributions as well as through community service. We measure our success through the eyes of our employees, our shareholders, our customers, our business partners and our neighbors. As active participants in the communities in which we serve, we seek to understand and support emerging issues that benefit all of our stakeholders.

CHARITABLE FOUNDATION PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

We look for innovative and meaningful programs, projects and opportunities that demonstrate a partnership between nonprofit agencies and our employees, and that support Sierra Pacific’s business purpose as an electric and
natural gas utility company.

The objectives of Sierra Pacific’s charitable giving program
are to:

Fund significant programs or initiatives that have lasting, positive impacts in the communities we serve
Support initiatives with measurable outcomes and a high degree of accountability
Link funding to Sierra Pacific’s business purpose
Strengthen relationships with nonprofit organizations and the community at large
Include the potential for employee volunteer involvement
Offer potential for collaborations with other organizations or businesses
Provide visibility and recognition opportunities for Sierra Pacific
Support quality of life indicators (for examples, visit www.quality-of-life.org)

AREAS OF FOCUS

Through the Charitable Foundation, Sierra Pacific administers grants in support of projects that benefit six major areas: Education, Environment, Health and Human Services, Youth, Civic, Arts and Multi–Cultural.

EDUCATION

The Foundation seeks to develop strategic partnerships with educational institutions and other 501(c)(3) organizations that have demonstrated a history of delivering effective educational programs that produce measurable results. We will give special consideration to programs that provide services to an ethnically diverse population or to under-served individuals.

We believe that life–long learning is critical to the well–being of our community and its economy. We also believe an educated and qualified work force is essential to future leadership in all areas of society, as well as to the future of our business. Special consideration may be given to the following types of programs:

Scholarships to accredited two– and four–year universities and colleges in the geographic region served by Sierra Pacific
Youth mentoring programs
Workforce preparation programs
Grants aimed at special research or studies that have a direct or indirect benefit to the area of energy development, the environment, or resource conservation

ENVIRONMENT

We are committed to supporting programs and organizations that address environmental concerns such as renewable resources, energy conservation, air, land and water quality, wildlife habitat, open space, parks and trails, and waste recycling. Grants under this area will foster programs working for a safe and sustainable environment.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

We fund health and human services programs primarily through our corporate sponsorship and employee giving campaigns that are directed towards the United Ways of Northern Nevada and the Sierra and the Great Basin. We support the United Way Standards of Excellence, and its community allocations processes. We will review on an exception basis other health and human services grant requests that concentrate on improving quality of life health indicators in the communities we serve.

YOUTH

We support youth oriented programs and organizations that focus on strong prevention and/or intervention activities, and which empower young people to gain self–confidence, personal independence and personal growth.

CIVIC

For a community to thrive, each of its members must contribute to the well–being of all. Sierra Pacific supports community organizations, programs and activities that benefit a broad range of citizens and civic improvement interests. As a result, the Foundation encourages community service efforts that are relevant to current community concerns and issues, and which effectively address such issues.

ARTS AND MULTI–CULTURAL

Sierra Pacific supports arts and multi–cultural programs that expand access to public participation in the arts and place special emphasis on bringing arts and cultural opportunities to under-served populations in both urban centers and rural towns.

Multi–cultural outreach supports diversity as a fundamental feature of a healthy, vibrant community. We support programs that develop a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and thought, and that foster social and economic justice.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Sierra Pacific Power supports quality of life indicators that define, benchmark and measure quality of life in a region. Through partnership with Truckee Meadows Tomorrow in the Reno–Sparks region, Sierra Pacific has been a leader in supporting and defining this quality of life measurement process. (Visit www.quality-of-life.org for more information on community quality of life initiatives.)

Quality of life indicators define measurable program outcomes, and we encourage organizations applying for grants to identify a specific quality of life indicator their organization or program supports, and the accompanying measurement of program success.

FUNDING GUIDELINES, EXCLUSIONS AND APPLICATION PROCESS

Before applying, please review the funding guidelines and exclusions. Requests for support can only be considered for organizations, programs and activities that meet the basic criteria provided in the funding guidelines.

All grant requests must include:

Organization name, address, telephone number, fax number, website address, email contact information and contact person
A brief description of your organization, its mission or purpose, population served, and geographic area of service.
A copy of your organization’s IRS certification of 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
A list of any Sierra Pacific employees involved in your organization
A list of principals, officers and members of your organization’s Board of Directors
A description of the need(s) you are addressing, the community or target population being served, and a description of how the grant will be used
A description of how your funding request specifically addresses the need(s) in question
Link your request to an established community quality of life indicator your program supports (see www .quality–of–life.org for examples of community quality of life indicators)
A description of the measurement you will use to determine the program’s success
Complete budget for the project
Do you have plans to promote this program and grant? If so, please describe your public relations and media plan.
What acknowledgement would Sierra Pacific receive for making a donation?

EXCLUSIONS

We do not consider grant requests that support:

Individuals
Tickets for contests, raffles or other activities with prizes
Religious organizations (unless the request specifically supports a program offered to the general public on a non–discriminatory basis and without regard to the recipient’s religious affiliation)
Film, television or video productions
Advertising
Out of service area donations
Other foundations
Debt–reduction campaigns
Political and partisan organizations or events
Sports events or tournaments
Trips or tours for individuals or groups
Talent or beauty contests
Conferences
Sports leagues

If your contribution request meets the guidelines of the Sierra Pacific Resources Foundation and does not fall within one of the areas of exclusion, please submit your proposal for consideration. Proposals are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Decisions on proposals are generally made within two months of submission.

The completed proposal should be directed to:

Administrator
Sierra Pacific Foundation
P.O. Box 30150
Reno, NV 89520–3150
Telephone: 775–834–5741

FOUNDATION COMMITTEE AND REVIEW PROCESS

The Foundation Committee is chaired by Sierra Pacific’s President, and includes Sierra Pacific Power representatives who understand the interests of all key stakeholders, including employees, shareholders, customers, and communities at large. The Board sets Foundation budgets, policies and procedures, and approves all grants.

We establish and follow clear processes for receiving, reviewing and acting on grant applications that are consistent with our policies and purposes. Local grants are managed through our Community Relations office.

The Foundation Board reviews requests bi–monthly.
Requests are reviewed on the basis of Foundation guidelines
The Board can either authorize immediate funding, request additional information if needed to make a decision, or recommend that a written response be sent to the requesting agency declining funding
Eligible requests are given full consideration. Applicants are usually notified of a decision within 60 days
Table requests and smaller sponsorships are funded from a limited pool of Community Relations dollars outside of Sierra Pacific Resources Foundation funding. Direct table requests to: Community Relations Manager, Sierra Pacific Power
P.O. Box 10100, Reno, NV 89520
Funding in any annual cycle does not guarantee continued annual funding support
Requests must be in writing, addressed to the Foundation Administrator

The Foundation Board reserves the right to give special emphasis to specific categories of funding from time to time, or to change or withdraw this program without notice. Sierra Pacific’s Foundation Board will determine the interpretations and administration of the provisions of the program.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The Board carefully reviews all circumstances in which there exists the possibility or appearance of conflict of interest, including the legal requirements that forbid staff, Foundation Board Members and their families from profiting financially from any philanthropic grant or activity. Our policies require staff and Board Members to disclose to their governing bodies the nature of any personal or family affiliation or involvement with any organization for which a grant is considered, even though such affiliation may not give rise to any financial or other conflict of interest.