CFC Board Pursues Integrity Fund Contributions

Last week, CFC mailed letters to all members inviting contributions to the Cooperative System Integrity Fund and providing a “Participation Authorization” form for those wanting to set aside a portion of their annual CFC patronage capital distribution or contribute to the fund by other means. 

“Even though patronage capital distribution amounts are not approved until the July CFC board meeting, the form [due June 30] allows members to designate a percentage of this year’s retirement to the Integrity Fund ahead of time,” CFC Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Brad Captain said.

Since its creation in 1986, the Integrity Fund—administered by CFC with decisions made by a five-member committee composed of CFC, NRECA and Rural Electric Statewide Managers Association representatives—has awarded more than $30 million in grants to nearly 300 cooperatives in 43 states. The grants can be used to:

• Fight takeover and annexation bids by investor-owned utilities and municipal electric systems. 
• Preserve the right of cooperatives to offer non-electric energy services.
• Resist regulatory, judicial or legislative actions that threaten the cooperative business model. 

Cooperatives do not have to contribute to the fund to request assistance.

The Integrity Fund clearly embodies the strength of a unified rural electric network. “Integrity Fund grants are funded exclusively by the rural electric network, for the rural electric network,” Captain, a member of the Integrity Fund Committee, added.

If you have any questions about the fund, please contact Captain at brad.captain@nrucfc.coop or Fund Administrator Donna Goff at donna.goff@nrucfc.coop.