What Are Voluntary Contribution Programs?

Vol. III, No. 236 - Is it time to give local governments a new tool to help neighbors?

Photo by Jan Huber on Unsplash

Winter’s making its entrance in full force this week. The forecasts may not be predicting a record-breaker, but anyone who’s been outside lately knows this storm is serious. The snow will pass soon enough, but the cold that follows will be punishing—the kind that makes you appreciate a working furnace and regret your next heating bill. For many in our community, those bills aren’t a mild inconvenience. They’re the difference between keeping the lights on and cutting back somewhere else.

In my day job, I help run one of Miami County’s largest human service nonprofits. Last year, our organization assisted more than 1,100 residents, distributing over $41,000 in rent and utility aid. At first glance, that number may seem modest, but put it in perspective: in a county of fewer than 110,000 people, that’s roughly one out of every 100 residents we’ve helped since January. Behind each number is a neighbor trying to make ends meet, and lately, we’re seeing more requests for help than ever.

When we talk about utility assistance, we quickly learn that not all utilities are created equal. In communities like Piqua and Tipp City, municipal utilities handle more than water and sewer; they also provide electric power. Unlike investor-owned utilities such as AES Ohio or CenterPoint Energy, these locally owned systems sometimes face restrictions on how they can support residents in hardship. It’s not that they don’t care—many simply don’t have the legal authority to create certain types of assistance programs.

Investor-owned utilities often run what are known as Voluntary Contribution Programs. You’ve likely seen them yourself: those small pop-ups or extra lines on your bill asking if you’d like to “round up” or donate a dollar or two to help neighbors in need. These programs are entirely optional but collectively raise meaningful funds. The companies then distribute the proceeds through charitable partners or assistance programs, offering some relief to households on the brink.

It’s an approach that works because it blends individual generosity with institutional support. Yet in Ohio, municipal utilities face hurdles in creating similar initiatives. Under state law, statutory municipal governments—like those in Troy—can only undertake actions explicitly permitted by the Ohio Revised Code. Unfortunately, that code doesn’t currently authorize voluntary donation programs for public utilities. Charter communities such as Piqua may have slightly more flexibility, but even there, the legal arguments remain unsettled.

Still, there’s reason for optimism. Other states have found ways to make these programs possible. In Washington, for instance, state law explicitly allows public utilities to collect voluntary contributions to help low-income customers pay their bills. Washougal, a small city of around 16,000 residents, runs one of the most successful models. There, residents can apply once a year for up to $250 in aid, provided they meet income requirements and face disconnection. It’s a simple, transparent system that reflects the community’s values of compassion and accountability.

There’s no reason Ohio couldn’t adopt something similar. Local governments here may not yet have the tools to launch such programs, but they do have voices, and those voices can carry to Columbus. By pushing for legislation that empowers municipal utilities to set up Voluntary Contribution Programs, communities could unlock an avenue of generosity that already exists—people wanting to help their neighbors but not knowing how.

The people of Miami County have never been short on generosity. I see it every day in the work we do, from donors who quietly give what they can to volunteers who spend their weekends helping strangers. A statewide change could give every Ohio community a new way to channel that same spirit. It’s about making local compassion practical—connecting good intentions with real infrastructure.

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