American Electric Power Foundation
The American Electric Power Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2005 as the corporate foundation of American Electric Power, one of the nation's largest electric utilities. Based in Columbus, Ohio, with a registered address in Wilmington, Delaware, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and serves as a major philanthropic force across the American Electric Power service territory.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$65.2M
-12.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$22.6M
-15.6% YoY
Grant Count
752
-5.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
-11.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, American Electric Power Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to enhance lives through strategic grantmaking and community engagement. Primary funding areas include:
- Education: Emphasis on STEM education from early childhood through higher education
- Basic Human Services: Programs addressing hunger, housing, health, and safety
- Environmental Protection: Conservation and environmental sustainability initiatives
- Social and Racial Justice: Programs promoting diversity and inclusion
- Arts and Culture: Support for arts, music, and cultural heritage to enrich community quality of life
Grantmaking
The foundation does not provide grants to:
Grant Range
$1,000 - $1,000,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates across an 11-state American Electric Power service territory:
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Distribution patterns: Approximately 70% of grants remain in Ohio, with significant funding also directed to Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $74.3 million
- Total revenues: $5.86 million
- Total expenses: $27 million
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical giving distribution:
- 37% to Education
- 19% to Social & Human Services
- 15% to Community Development
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $65,226,977 | $74,342,346 | $95,988,119 |
| Revenue | $13,479,995 | $5,857,994 | $79,861,978 |
| Expenses | $22,792,145 | $27,017,873 | $29,839,850 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $22,743,750 | $26,903,499 | $32,274,370 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,475,550 | $5,791,216 | $4,858,156 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,913,728 | $4,929,019 | $2,286,828 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
201 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from American Electric Power Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Akron-canton Regional Foodbank ($200,000), Appalachia Service Project Inc ($200,000), American Cancer Society Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 BLACK MEN OF CENTRAL OHIO INCORPORATED COLUMBUS, OH | Saturdays Leadership Academy Fund | $5,000 |
| A KID AGAIN INC COLUMBUS, OH | Capes & Crowns Walk and Family Fun Fest | $5,000 |
| ABBAS HOUSE IAEGER, WV | Harvest Hope: Community Garden Initiative Fund | $5,000 |
| ABILENE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION ABILENE, TX | Economic & Downtown Development and Small Business | $20,000 |
| ADAMS COUNTY OHIO VALLEY LOCAL WEST UNION, OH | MAKERspace lab fund | $10,000 |
| ADAMS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY PEEBLES, OH | STE(A)M Explorer Kits and Public Maker Space | $2,500 |
| ADAMS COUNTY SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS INC WEST UNION, OH | Adams County Shelter for the Homeless, Inc. Meals Fund | $5,000 |
| AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALLIANCE OF CENTRAL OHIO COLUMBUS, OH | Strategic Advisory Council | $10,000 |
| AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOODBANK AKRON, OH | 2025 Food Distribution Support | $24,960 |
| AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOODBANK AKRON, OH | Growing for Good: Canton Foodbank Facility and Endowment Fund | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Nick Akins – Chair, Director
- Christian T Beam – Director, Vice President, Secretary
- Janelle N Coleman – Director, President
- Ann P Kelly – Director, Treasurer
- Peggy I Simmons – Director, Vice President
- Julie Sloat – Secretary, Treasurer, Director, Chair
- Charles E Zebula – Treasurer, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian T Beam | Dir, VP, Sec | 1 | — |
| Janelle N Coleman | Dir, Pres, Chair | 1 | — |
| Benjamin Fowke | Dir, Chair | 1 | — |
| Peggy I Simmons | Dir, VP, Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Julie Sloat | Dir, Chair | 1 | — |
| Charles E Zebula | Treas, Dir | 1 | — |
| Kate Sturgess | Dir | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements demonstrate ongoing commitment to STEM education and workforce development:
AEP Ohio announced a $200,000 grant from the AEP Foundation
AEP Ohio Announces $200,000 Grant from the AEP Foundation to ...AEP Ohio Foundation provided support for STEM outreach in Southeast Ohio through Ohio University's STEMstart program
AEP Ohio Foundation grant supports STEM outreach in Southeast OhioAEP Foundation granted $36,000 to technical colleges and provided lineworker program scholarships in Kentucky
AEP Foundation grants $36K to technical colleges, provides lineworker programPSO (Public Service Company of Oklahoma) announced 2024 AEP Foundation STEM After-School grants
AEP Foundation grants $36K to technical colleges, provides lineworker programSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does American Electric Power Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to enhance lives through strategic grantmaking and community engagement. Primary funding areas include: • **Education**: Emphasis on STEM education from early childhood through higher education • **Basic Human Services**: Programs addressing hunger, housing, health, and safety • **Environmental Protection**: Conservation and environmental sustainability initiatives • **Social and Racial Justice**: Programs promoting diversity and inclusion • **Arts and Culture**: Sup…
How do I apply for a grant from American Electric Power Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2023):** • Total grants awarded: 792 grants • Total giving: $26+ million • Grant range: $1,000 - $1,000,000 • Typical grant size: $100,000 • Median grant: $7,500 **Application Process:** • Invitation only—no unsolicited applications accepted • Minimum request: $15,000 • Organizations should contact their local AEP operating company representative for grant opportunities • Requests accepted throughout the year for consideration **Contact for Inquiries:** • Phone: (614) 716-2605…
Where does American Electric Power Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates across an 11-state American Electric Power service territory: • Arkansas • Indiana • Kentucky • Louisiana • Michigan • Ohio • Oklahoma • Tennessee • Texas • Virginia • West Virginia **Distribution patterns:** Approximately 70% of grants remain in Ohio, with significant funding also directed to Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Virginia.
What size grants does American Electric Power Foundation award?
In 2024, American Electric Power Foundation awarded 752 grants totaling $22.6M — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is American Electric Power Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, American Electric Power Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is American Electric Power Foundation's EIN?
American Electric Power Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3886453. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Electric Power Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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