We Advocate. We Collaborate. We Serve. 2015/2016 Annual Report 2015-2016 Board of Directors Operation Fuel Staff

Nancy Bulkeley, Chair Arianna Baret Peralta Karen E. Adamson* Nadia De La Puente Dominion Nuclear Executive Director Case Management Coordinator

Matthew Service, Vice Chair John Bowman Julian Freund Clayton Jason Ultimate Nutrition, Inc. F.F. Hitchcock Oil Company Director of Energy Conservation Major Gifts Officer Programs The Reverend Hopeton Scott, Monika Doshi Rebecca Kilpatrick Treasurer Saath Kimberly O’Brien Green Development Assistant First Baptist Church, Bridgeport Director of Development Laura Gonzalez Melissa Mendoza Richard Schauster, Assistant The United Illuminating Company Betty Walsh Case Manager Treasurer Director of Finance and Empire Industries, Retired Allan Smith Administration Regina Pelrine Hartford Courant Media Group Executive Administrative Assistant Lynn Vasquez, Secretary Brenda Watson Eversource Energy Susan T. Wakefield Director of Community Programs Energizer Personal Care, Retired

*Patricia J. Wrice retired as Executive Director in June 2016. Executive Message Executive Letter

This was my final year at Operation Fuel. After nearly This never could have happened without all of you. As Operation Fuel enters its 40th year, I am looking But we cannot do it without your continued support and 19 years as Executive Director, I retired on June 30, Your continued support and generosity has played forward to my new role as Executive Director of partnership. Our loyal donors and community partners are 2016. I made the decision to retire the previous year a significant role in our growth. It has been a Connecticut’s only statewide, year-round emergency an integral part of the work that we do at Operation Fuel. energy assistance program. and felt comfortable leaving Operation Fuel in the privilege to work with so many dedicated and loyal I look forward to working with all of you. Thank you for hands of our dedicated staff and board of directors. individuals and organizations throughout my years I am honored to be a part of the team and to help making a difference in the lives of working families, at Operation Fuel. Thank you so much for being part continue Operation Fuel’s mission of ensuring that every seniors on a fixed income, the disabled, and others who Following an extensive search, we selected Karen of the Operation! Adamson as the new Executive Director. Karen family and individual has access throughout the year to are struggling financially. affordable heat and electricity. brings a great deal of experience to Operation Fuel Patricia J. Wrice Karen E. Adamson and a passion for nonprofit work. Karen, along with Retired Executive Director, Operation Fuel In fiscal year 2015-2016, we had both a mild winter and Executive Director, Operation Fuel Operation Fuel’s staff and board, will continue to considerably lower home heating oil prices, for the first ensure that Connecticut households in need have time in many years. These conditions allowed Operation year-round access to heat and utility services. Fuel to help more families and individuals who faced When I started here, Operation Fuel was a small utility shutoffs this past spring and summer. winter program. Since then we have evolved into a Despite these favorable conditions, more than 313,000 statewide, year-round energy assistance program households in our state are still struggling with with more than 100 fuel banks throughout the state unaffordable energy bills. Operation Fuel is committed to of Connecticut. be here for these vulnerable families and individuals for as long as we are needed. A Year in Review

Over the past fiscal year, Operation Fuel continued Along with our fuel banks, Operation Fuel partners with to work with its community partners to ensure that businesses, nonprofit organizations, government and Connecticut’s lower-income families and individuals individuals to ensure that Connecticut households have were able to keep their homes warm and their access year-round to affordable heat and electricity. electricity on. Operation Fuel assists with all types of home energy bills, including heating oil, natural gas, electric, Operation Fuel, through its statewide network of fuel wood, pellets, and propane. Our funding is provided by banks, provided $3.2 million in energy assistance to grants and donations from foundations, corporations, 7,705 households during the 2015/16 fiscal year. government, local businesses, and individuals. As Connecticut’s only statewide, year-round Add-a-Dollar Program emergency energy assistance program, we help The Add-a-Dollar program is a key source of funding households that are in financial crisis. Many for Operation Fuel; 100% of the donations made Operation Fuel recipients are elderly people who are to the Add-a-Dollar program are used for energy living on fixed incomes and lower-income working assistance. This past fiscal year, Operation Fuel families with children. raised $611,870 through the Add-a-Dollar program, For the full fiscal year, we helped 20,031 individuals $476,133 from utility customers’ donations and including 1,430 senior citizens and 8,209 children $135,737 in utility provided shareholder-matching under the age of 18. This past winter, Operation Fuel funds. Over the past 32 years, Operation Fuel’s provided almost $2 million in energy assistance, Add-a-Dollar program has raised more than $17 while giving out over $1.1 million during the million to provide energy assistance to over 40,000 summer of 2015. Connecticut households. Fuel Banks Play Critical Role 313,000 Households Cannot Afford Energy Bills Long-Term Solutions Operation Fuel’s network of 103 fuel banks were integral to Although the energy affordability gap decreased from a year With limited resources, Operation Fuel can help only a fraction of the success of the energy assistance program in fiscal year ago, the number of Connecticut households struggling to pay the households that need energy assistance. As a result, the 2016. The fuel banks are located strategically throughout the their energy bills reached a new high. The energy affordability nonprofit has positioned itself as Connecticut’s voice on state. Typically they are part of community agencies, municipal gap, for households with incomes at or below 200% of the low-income energy issues. human and social service departments, and religious Federal Poverty Level, dropped from $784 million in 2014 organizations. Without the fuel banks and their dedicated to $471 million in 2015. The decline was due mainly to a This spring, Operation Fuel held a Power Lunch to discuss the staff, many vulnerable households would not be able to access significant reduction in the price of home heating oil and ongoing energy affordability crisis and the need for alternative Operation Fuel’s services. natural gas. Despite this drop, over 313,000 Connecticut solutions. The nonprofit continues to look for ways to help vulnerable households owe an average of $1,506 more in annual energy households lower their energy expenses and to educate people about Year-round Need for Energy Assistance bills than they can afford to pay, according to the Home Energy various ways to become more energy efficient. Meetings such as this Keeping Families from Being Homeless Since it began nearly 40 years ago, Operation Fuel has evolved Affordability Gap: Connecticut (2015) Report. one illustrate how Operation Fuel is working with its community and The Homeless Intervention and Prevention Program (HIPP) is another from a small winter program to a year-round nonprofit energy business partners to make energy more affordable for everyone. way that Operation Fuel is working with its community partners on assistance program with fuel banks in almost every town. Over The federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program long-term solutions. the years, there has been a significant increase in the need for (LIHEAP) is the primary source of energy assistance for energy assistance during the warm weather months. Connecticut’s lower-income households. But it only covers This past fiscal year, Operation Fuel’s HIP Program provided $34,207 about 14% of the latest energy affordability gap. Operation in energy assistance grants to 49 families and individuals who were Every spring and summer, thousands of families and Fuel provides a safety net for struggling Connecticut either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Past-due utility individuals are in danger of having their gas and electric households that are not eligible for LIHEAP. bills can prevent the transition from a shelter back to permanent services terminated due to high balances on their utility bills. housing, while a lack of utilities often violates a lease agreement. The annual winter moratorium, which prevents households HIPP assistance can help to remove these barriers to permanent from having their utilities shut off, ends on May 1 and does not housing. Applicants for HIPP must be below 60% of the state resume until November 1. median income to qualify for an energy assistance grant. Since its inception a few years ago, HIPP has provided 1,700 households with a New Start enrollment, re-enrollment Helping Small Businesses $123,459 in energy assistance to 189 Connecticut households. or budget payment. “The partnership is a natural fit because Operation Fuel continues to help small businesses throughout As a result, 485 people have been able to resume or maintain Operation Fuel has the ability to reach people in need through the state lower their operating costs through energy efficiency housing. Operation Fuel’s community partners for HIPP this its network of fuel banks,” said Brenda Watson, Operation measures. Since 2013, Operation Fuel has partnered with past fiscal year were Inspirica, Inc. in Stamford, LifeBridge Fuel’s Director of Community Programs. Eversource Energy and United Illuminating to connect small Community Services of Bridgeport and Mercy Housing and business owners with the utility companies’ energy efficiency Shelter Corporation, which serves and incentives and to provide supplemental financial assistance Middlesex County. toward making improvements that reduce energy costs. Representatives from United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut During the past fiscal year, Operation Fuel provided 31 small Partnering with Eversource on New Start Gas, Connecticut Natural Gas, Operation Fuel, and Eversource During this past fiscal year, Operation Fuel began Energy at the 2015 Social Agency Energy Assistance Conference. businesses with energy assessments; 24 of the businesses partnering with Eversource Energy to help increase completed energy saving upgrades. Since the small business enrollment in the utility’s New Start program. New Start Social Agency Energy Assistance Conference program began, more than 260 small businesses have can help to eliminate an outstanding balance for customers Last fall, Operation Fuel partnered with Eversource Energy, completed energy assessments and 170 have made energy who meet specific eligibility requirements, including United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas, and Connecticut efficiency improvements such as lighting, refrigeration and income. After Eversource reviews an eligible customer’s Natural Gas for its annual Social Agency Energy Assistance weatherization measures. The program has expanded from billing history, a payment plan is set up for 12 months. As Conference. More than 280 people attended, including staff the original five pilot communities to 20 cities and towns long as New Start payments are made, electric service will from Operation Fuel, the fuel banks, the utility companies, and throughout Connecticut. not be shut off, despite the outstanding balance, and a state agencies. The conference provided fuel bank personnel This past fiscal year, Operation Fuel obtained additional grant portion of the balance will be forgiven. the opportunity to learn about updates to the state’s energy assistance plan, utility arrearage forgiveness programs, medical funding from the Farmington Bank Community Foundation and Since the partnership began, Operation Fuel has assisted over the People’s United Community Foundation for small businesses Eddie Swift of Eversource Energy training Operation Fuel’s intake and hardship protection procedures, and payment options for sites on the New Start Program. households struggling to stay current with their utility services. that implement comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades. Operation Fuel made a commitment to its first large-scale New Executive Director and Staffing Update Operation Fuel in the winter of 2016. In his role as a comprehensive project in the spring of 2016 for an East Operation Fuel is excited to report that our staff has grown in development officer, Clayton concentrates on donor Hartford supermarket, which was funded in part by the fiscal year 2016. We now consist of ten employees. engagement and building community partnerships. He Farmington Bank Community Foundation grant. An additional joins the team having worked in development roles at the three to five comprehensive projects are expected to be Karen Adamson, of Vernon, Conn., was named Operation Fuel’s University of Hartford, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and completed as a result of these available grant funds. new Executive Director in June 2016. She succeeds Patricia PACT of Philadelphia, PA. As Operation Fuel’s Development Wrice who retired at the end of the fiscal year after nearly Assistant, Beckah is responsible for processing all gifts and Residential Energy Conservation Efforts 19 years as Executive Director. Adamson has a background contributions to Operation Fuel, maintaining biographical In late spring 2016, Operation Fuel began a pilot program at in both education and the nonprofit sector. After a career in information in the development database, researching funding several intake sites to educate energy assistance recipients, education, she served in a series of progressively responsible opportunities, and collaborating directly with the Director of who also are homeowners, about different ways to save nonprofit positions. Karen most recently was Vice President Development on special projects. She joined Operation Fuel money by lowering their energy consumption. The program of Community Engagement and Performance for the Access having worked in development at Kingswood Oxford School. is a partnership with the Connecticut Green Bank and Community Action Agency in Willimantic, Conn. provides homeowners with information on the Home Energy Solutions (HES) and Weatherization Assistance programs, the “Under Pat Wrice’s visionary leadership, Operation Fuel has Connecticut Green Bank’s solar energy program, and various been a voice for households that can not afford our state’s energy-related loan programs. In addition, Operation Fuel’s high energy costs. The organization’s mission is a great staff maintains contact with participating clients and provides match to my personal mission to help eliminate the barriers to ongoing assistance and support. economic stability faced by low- to moderate-income families and individuals. I am honored to be part of the team and to continue this essential work,” said Adamson.

In addition, we added valuable resources to our development team. Clayton Jason and Beckah Kilpatrick both joined Assistance Provided Financials

Statement of Financial Position Liabilities and Net Assets For the year ended June 30, 2016 2015-2016 ASSETS LIABILITIES Cash and Cash Equivalents 2,347,888 Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities 233,661 $34,641 Certificates of Deposit 228,008 $89,957 81 $172,533 Deferred Revenue - Small Business Program 44,194 $729,806 438 Grants and Other Receivables 1,845,557 Charitable Gift Annuity Payment Liability 10,868 235 1,829 Prepaid Expense 11,465 Total Current Liabilities 288,723 Security Deposit 3,341 Total Current Assets 4,436,259 NET ASSETS Unrestricted 1,824,139 OTHER ASSETS Temporarily Restricted 2,370,571 $293,611 Property & Equipment 47,174 Total Net Assets 4,194,710 (Net of Depreciation) Total Liabilities and Net Assets 4,483,433 $85,701 758 $990,598 216 Total Assets 4,483,433 2,390 $750,369 1,709 Financials Financials Management 6.4% Fundraising 5.7%

Revenue and Expenses For the Year Ended June 30, 2016 REVENUE AND SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS EXPENSES Energy Related Industry 30,875 Energy Assistance Programs 3,935,573 Governmental Grants - State 2,100,000 Management 288,051 Add-a-Dollar 476,133 Fundraising 254,538 Foundation Grants 254,736 Total Expenses 4,478,162 Individuals 368,708 Utility Shareholder Match 135,737 Energy Assistance Programs 87.9% Corporations and Small Businesses 46,657 Faith Communities 23,111 Program Contracts 78,843 Fines and Settlements 2,702,000 Interest Income 3,729 Grand Total Revenues and Support 6,220,529

Fines and Settlements 43.4% Utility Shareholder Match 2.2% Energy Related Industry 0.5%

Governmental Grants - State 33.8% Individuals 5.9% Faith Communities 0.4%

Add-a-Dollar 7.7% Interest Income 0.1% Program Contracts 1.3%

Foundation Grants 4.1% Corporations and Small Businesses 0.8% Community Partners Fuel Banks

Advent Christian Church of Torrington Dominion Foundation L.F. Powers Co., Inc. Swindells Charitable Foundation Bloomfield Social & Youth Services Life Bridge Community Services Town of Colchester Youth & Social Services Aetna Foundation Matching Gifts Dominion Foundation Employee Giving Program Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc. The Carl Marks Foundation Inc. Bristol Community Organization Inc. MACC Charities - Manchester Town of Deep River Fuel Bank Aldo Dedominicis Foundation Dutch Point Credit Union, Inc. Lawrence + Memorial Hospital The Chaney Family Foundation Brookfield Social Services Madison Senior Center Fuel Bank Town of Durham Fuel Bank Allied World Assurance Company Enfield Congregational Church Lena Benas Memorial Fund The Dominican Nuns Catholic Charities Fuel Bank - Norwich Madison Social Services Town of Essex Social Services American Eagle Financial Credit Union Ensworth Charitable Foundation Liberty Power Holdings, LLC The Dornam Foundation Catholic Charities Fuel Bank - Willimantic Mercy Housing & Shelter Corp. Town of Fairfield Dept. of Human Services American Savings Foundation ERJ Fund MassMutual Financial Group Matching Gifts The Franklin Conklin Foundation Cheshire Human Services Monroe Community & Social Services Town of Killingworth Andrew Associates Inc. Eversource Energy Microsoft Matching Gifts Program The GE Foundation Archdiocese of Hartford Farmington Bank Community Foundation Mystic Congregational Church The Hartford Christian Community Action Montville Dept. of Senior & Social Services Town Of Lebanon - Social Services Asylum Hill Congregational Church First Baptist Church of Branford Network for Good The Sandra and Arnold Chase Family Foundation, Inc. Community Action Agency of New Haven New Britain/Human Resources Agency Town of Middlebury Dept. of Elderly & Social Services Bank of America Matching Gifts Program First Baptist Church of Essex North American Power and Gas, LLC The Sherry L. Brown Family Fund Community Action Agency of Western CT New Canaan Health & Human Services Town of Plymouth Baptist Fellowship First Church Congregational Norwich Public Utilities The Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. Community Fuel Bank New Milford New Fairfield Social Services Town of Rocky Hill Human Services Baram, Tapper, & Gans, LLC First Church In Windsor Parikh Family Charitable Fund The State of Connecticut Community Renewal Team, Inc. New Opportunities of Greater Meriden Town of Roxbury Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation First Church of Christ in Saybrook, Congregational Paulson Training Programs, Inc. Travelers Cornwall Dept. of Social Services New Opportunities, Inc. Town of Sherman Social Services Beth Sholom B’nai Israel First Congregational Church of Cheshire Pentecostal Mission John 3:16 Inc. UIL Holdings Corporation Coventry Human Services/ Coventry Clergy Fuel Bank Newington Dept. of Human Services Town of Somers Social Services Bristol-Myers Squib Company Matching Gifts First Congregational Church of Granby People’s United Community Foundation UIL Holdings Corporation Foundation Cromwell Human Services Newtown Fuel Bank Town of Stonington, Dept. of Human Services Bruyette Family Foundation First Congregational Church of Wallingford Pfizer Foundation Union Baptist Church Danielson Methodist Church Fuel Fund North Branford Fuel Bank & Northford Town of Tolland Human Services Budd Family Fund First Congregational Church of Washington Pitney Bowes/Global Impact Unitarian Universalist Society: East Calvary Baptist Church First Congregational Church of Waterbury Prudential Foundation Matching Gifts Program United Bank Foundation Darien Human Services North Canaan Social Services Town of Weston, Dept. of Social Services Cardinal Health Foundation First Presbyterian Church Pullman & Comley, LLC United Church on the Green East Hampton Volunteer Food Bank Norwich Human Services Town of Westport Dept. of Human Services Center Church on the Green Fortress Fiduciary Company LLC Rocky Hill Congregational Church United Illuminating Employee Giving Program East Hartford Health & Social Services Old Saybrook Fuel Bank Town of Woodbury Social Services Charles Nelson Robinson Fund Fuller Family Foundation Sacred Heart Church United Technologies Corporation East Windsor Human Services Orange, Town of Trumbull Social Services Christ Church Cathedral George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation Saint Paul Roman Catholic Church United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut Ellington Human Services Dept. Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center TVCCA New London Fuel Bank Church of the Holy Spirit GoodWorks Insurance Service Internet Solutions, LLC UnitedHealth Group Enfield Neighborhood Services Fuel Bank Russell Mercier Senior Center United Labor Agency Claire L. Helsing Foundation Hartford Foundation For Public Giving Simsbury Bank Universal Life Children’s Church Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church Salisbury Fuel Bank Vernon Social Services CLSJ Foundation, Inc. Hartford Steam Boiler Sir Speedy Printing of Bloomfield Valassis Direct Mail, Inc. First Baptist Church - Bridgeport Sharon Community Foundation Wallingford Youth & Social Services CMC Energy Services HCC Global Financial Products Sisters of St. Joseph Valley Presbyterian Church FISH/Friends in Service to Humanity of NWCT South Windsor Human Services Warren Social Services Community Foundation of Middlesex County Hearthstone Apartments, LLC Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Verde Energy USA Congregation of Notre Dame Hewlett-Packard Company Spottswood A.M.E. Zion Church Voya Foundation Gifts of Love St. Vincent DePaul Middletown Washington Senior Center Congregational Church of Salisbury Hi-Ho Petroleum Spring Brook Ice & Fuel Service Waterford Rotary Club Glastonbury Social Services Stafford Social Services Watertown Social Services Fuel Bank Connecticut Energy Marketers Association Howey Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater St. Agnes Church Webster Bank Granby/East Granby Emergency Fuel Bank Stratford Senior Services Fuel Bank West Hartford Division of Social Services Connecticut Health Foundation New Britain St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Corp. Western Connecticut Health Network Greenwich Dept. of Social Services Suffield Emergency Aid Association Westbrook Social Services Connecticut Power and Energy Society IBM Employee Services Center St. James Episcopal Church Westminster Presbyterian Church Groton Dept. Human Services TEAM, Inc. Wethersfield Social and Youth Services Constellation Energy Power Choice, Inc. Ion Bank Foundation St. James’s Episcopal Church Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C. Guilford Social Services TEEG Wilton Social Services CT Local Association of Social Services Inc. Irmar Foundation/Wayne Eisenbaum Charitable Foundation St. Matthew Church Wilcox Fuel, Inc. Hebron Interfaith Human Services The Salvation Army- Bridgeport Winchester Fuel Bank (The Salvation Army) Jewett City DPU - Electric Division Daughters of the Holy Spirit St. Paul’s Episcopal Church William and Alice Mortensen Foundation Inspirica, Inc. The Salvation Army, Greater Hartford Windham Area Interfaith Ministry (WAIM) David N. Lane Trust for Aged & Indigent Women Joseph Family Markets, LLC St. Thomas of Villanova Windsor Federal Savings IRIS-Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services Town of Branford- Canoe Brook Center Windsor Locks Social Services Dillon Mailing and Printing Katharine Matthies Foundation Stony Creek Church of Christ Congregational XL Catlin Dime Bank Foundation, Inc. Kensington Congregational Church Suffield By The River LLC Jewish Family Service of New Haven Town of Chester Emergency Fuel Bank Windsor Social Services Direct Energy Services, LLC Klebe Fuel Company Suffield Firemen’s Association Kent Social Services Department Town of Clinton Social Services Dominican Sisters of Peace KORY-Ware Inc. Sun Life Financial 75 Charter Oak Avenue Suite 2-240 Hartford, CT 06106 860-243-2345 www.operationfuel.org