SharingChange Frequently Asked Questions
About SharingChange
SharingChange is MTE’s charitable foundation whose sole purpose is to give back to the communities we serve. Members like you donate funds, with 100% of the donations going to local nonprofit organizations. Since 2003, Middle Tennessee Electric’s charitable foundation has distributed more than $13 million to 500+ local organizations. Members donate monthly to SharingChange either by having their bill rounded up to the nearest dollar, adding a fixed amount to their bill, or using both options.
Why did Middle Tennessee Electric decide to do this?
The cooperative’s member-elected board of directors decided to create the charitable foundation in November 2003. It was renamed SharingChange in 2016. As past Board Chairman Gordon Bone put it, “It fits perfectly with the principles of our cooperative — to pool a small amount of our individual resources to make a big difference for the community as a whole. While your individual contributions may only add up to pennies a month, when it is added along with mine and thousands of other MTE members, it will be a sum that will allow a real impact to be made in our communities.”
Your Bill and Participation
How does it affect my bill?
One option is to round your monthly bills up to the next whole dollar amount. For example, if your electric bill is $49.25, it rounds up to $50.00. The additional 75 cents are set aside for worthy causes. This shows up as a separate item on your electric bill. You can also choose to donate a fixed monthly amount to give even more back to your community. Some members have chosen to donate using both options.
Does the bill round up even if the cents amount is less than 50?
Yes. If you choose this option, a $49.01 bill and a $49.99 both round up to $50.00. The average round-up amounts to about 50 cents per month, or about $6 a year.
Do I have a choice to participate?
Yes. In fact, a critical aspect of SharingChange is that you must choose to participate. You can join the program using the form on the site or by calling 877-777-9020.
What if I decide later that I would rather not participate?
You can choose to stop donating at any time and have your contributions refunded up to 12 months retroactively. In other words, you can donate money for a year to see what you think about the program. If you don't like it, let us know, and we can issue a refund for up to 12 months' contributions. Just contact member support for assistance.
Grants and Oversight
Who decides how the money is used, and which causes will benefit?
SharingChange has a volunteer board made up of members appointed by the MTE Board of Directors. The SharingChange Board meets regularly to review all grant applications and determine the grant levels awarded to nonprofit organizations.
What types of worthy causes will these funds assist?
Funds have been used for things like:
- Firefighting equipment for volunteer fire departments
- Life-saving equipment for ambulance or rescue squads
- Hospice programs
- Youth programs
- Food shelves
- Clothing, shelter, and medical services following an accident or storm
Donations are not limited to these categories, but the funds may not be used for political purposes. You can see a SharingChange highlight every month in The Tennessee Magazine or on our stories page.
How does one learn about applying for these funds?
We love hearing from and learning about new organizations that help our members. If you’re interested in applying for a grant, you can submit an application at mte.com/Grants. If you’d like more information about the program or have issues related to applying, reach out to MTE’s Community Relations team.
Tax Information
Are SharingChange contributions tax deductible?
Yes. If you’d like a form to submit for your tax deductions, please contact our member support team at 877-777-9020. If you donate more than $250 a year, we are required to send you the form automatically at the beginning of the year. Our Community Relations team can answer any questions or concerns about your tax deduction form.
Helpful Links
Contact MTE's Community Relations Team
MTE’s Community Relations team works to strengthen connections between MTE and the communities we serve. Whether you're looking for information about community involvement, SharingChange, educational opportunities, events, partnerships, or outreach programs, our team is here to help.
We're here to serve MTE members and community partners through community engagement efforts and programs.
Email: communityrelations@mte.com
Phone: 877-777-9020
Online: mte.com/Community