Firstenergy Foundation
The FirstEnergy Foundation is a private foundation based in Akron, Ohio. It supports 501(c)(3) organizations in FirstEnergy’s operational area and in areas where the company conducts business, with the stated aim of helping organizations build capacity, strengthen outcomes and deliver lasting impact.
Firstenergy Foundation at a glance
In short: Firstenergy Foundation gave $7.2M across 151 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in Delaware. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,165,300
- +35.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 151
- -29.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,452
- +92.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,375
- Total assets
- $124,917,059
- -0.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Delaware (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Firstenergy Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited grant applications and directs organizations with grant inquiries to its Community Involvement Department. The 2024 filing lists a one- or two-page letter stating the amount requested, the organization and the need for the grant. It also states that awards are made to organizations in the continental United States and include health, welfare, education or art. The website says program requests exceeding $25,000 require a separate proposal and a meeting with the Foundation. The Foundation generally does not fund individuals, political or legislative activities, or a range of other categories, including research, equipment or capital purchases, salaries, stipends or scholarships, transportation costs, and Pre-K–12 schools.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states there are no submission deadlines and applications are reviewed as received.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states there are no submission deadlines and applications are reviewed as received.
- Contact
Application contact: Amanda Mertens Campbell
Mailing address: 76 S Main St, Akron, OH 44308
Phone: (330) 805-3892
Website: https://firstenergycorp.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Firstenergy Foundation
Who Firstenergy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Online Giving Foundation Inc ($5.3M). Together the top 10 received $6.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,548 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,492 grants of 1,548 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website describes its support as serving FirstEnergy’s operational area and areas where the company conducts business. In its 2024 grant data, recipient organizations were located primarily in Delaware (74% of grant dollars), Ohio (17%) and Pennsylvania (6%); West Virginia and Maryland each accounted for 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 151 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Firstenergy Foundation gives
- 20% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 41% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.1M (2021) to $9.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 151 grants totaling $7.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc Newark, DE | Benevity Community Impact Fund | $5,323,823 |
| United Way of Summit and Medina Akron, OH | Health & Safety | $353,981 |
| United Way of Berks County Reading, PA | Health & Safety | $161,841 |
| The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, PA | Health & Safety | $137,970 |
| Greater Cleveland Food Bank Inc Cleveland, OH | Health & Safety | $100,100 |
| Akron 200 Inc Akron, OH | Civic | $100,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America Stow, OH | Civic | $100,000 |
| Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation Inc Akron, OH | Arts & Culture | $100,000 |
| Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio Brecksville, OH | Civic | $85,000 |
| United Way of Greater Cleveland Fund Cleveland, OH | Health & Safety | $57,564 |
Ready to take the next step with Firstenergy Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $124,917,059 | $6,316,497 | $7,368,976 | $7,165,300 | 151 | $7,227,759 | $6,234,972 | $6,496,248 |
| 2023 | $125,969,538 | $341,463 | $6,175,318 | $5,276,512 | 214 | $5,350,340 | $2,599,542 | $5,953,813 |
| 2022 | $133,802,602 | $5,501,776 | $9,502,113 | $9,269,468 | 1,181 | $9,271,058 | $5,346,128 | $6,305,136 |
| 2021 | $137,802,939 | $22,767,216 | $5,611,805 | $5,075,394 | 1 | $5,241,063 | $18,657,547 | $6,718,923 |
| 2020 | $118,635,802 | $9,608,755 | $10,013,947 | $9,832,663 | 1 | — | $2,707,261 | $6,327,230 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Firstenergy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s vision is “strengthening the communities we serve,” through investment in organizations that enhance community vitality, sustainability and diversity. Its 2024 impact report identifies priorities including quality of life, safety initiatives, workforce development, education, local and regional economic development, and employee leadership and volunteer interests aligned with the business. Its current website lists housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development and STEM initiatives as giving priorities.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. United Way of Summit and Medina says it works to help people get assistance and build healthy lives; the Greater Cleveland Food Bank says it provides food and essential resources to neighbors facing hunger; and Akron Children’s Museum describes itself as a place where play inspires children’s exploration, discovery and problem solving.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 151 grants totaling $7,165,300. Grants ranged from $25 to $5,323,823, with a median grant of $1,375. Its largest reported grant was $5,323,823 to American Online Giving Foundation Inc. in Newark, Delaware, for the Benevity Community Impact Fund. Other large grants included $353,981 to United Way of Summit and Medina for health and safety; $161,841 to United Way of Berks County for health and safety; $137,970 to The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania for health and safety; and $100,100 to Greater Cleveland Food Bank for health and safety. Akron 200 Inc. and Boy Scouts of America each received $100,000 for civic purposes.
The Foundation’s 2024 impact report separately describes $6.7 million in Foundation support for 552 organizations. The report lists health and safety, education, civic activity, arts and culture, sustainability and other areas among its spending categories.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Antonio Fernandez, Irene M Prezelj and Michelle Henry as trustees; Bill Wang as treasurer; Darnella Robertson as assistant secretary; Lorna Wisham as president; and Mary M Swann as secretary. A 2025 company announcement said Wisham had retired and that FirstEnergy was seeking a new Foundation leader.
Firstenergy Foundation is led by Lorna Wisham, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lorna Wisham
President
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irene M. Prezelj
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Antonio Fernandez
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Henry
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary M Swann
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Wang
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darnella Robertson
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Samuel L. Belcher (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Steve Staub (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Dan Dunlap (2022–2023) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: K Jon Taylor (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Bennett L Gaines (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Daniel M Dunlap (2020–2021) — Assistant Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Firstenergy Foundation
How much does Firstenergy Foundation give each year?
Firstenergy Foundation gave $7.2M across 151 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.3M across 214 grants.
What is Firstenergy Foundation's typical grant size?
Firstenergy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,375, and its average grant was $47,452, across 151 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Firstenergy Foundation give grants?
Firstenergy Foundation gives mostly in Delaware: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Ohio (17%) and Pennsylvania (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Akron, OH (14 grants), Cleveland, OH (9 grants), Reading, PA (3 grants) and Youngstown, OH (3 grants).
Does Firstenergy Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 151 grants with a stated purpose on Firstenergy Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Health & Safety" (107 grants), "Civic" (26 grants) and "Education" (9 grants).
Who are Firstenergy Foundation's largest grantees?
Firstenergy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Online Giving Foundation Inc ($5,323,823), United Way of Summit and Medina ($353,981) and United Way of Berks County ($161,841), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Firstenergy Foundation?
Firstenergy Foundation reported $124.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Firstenergy Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s vision is “strengthening the communities we serve,” through investment in organizations that enhance community vitality, sustainability and diversity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Firstenergy Foundation?
The Foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited grant applications and directs organizations with grant inquiries to its Community Involvement Department. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Firstenergy Foundation's EIN?
Firstenergy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6514181. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Firstenergy Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Firstenergy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Firstenergy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/firstenergy-foundation-morg_b1eead5d052e490e9f8241c2d3e82b8e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_346514181_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Firstenergy Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/firstenergy-foundation-morg_b1eead5d052e490e9f8241c2d3e82b8e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Firstenergy Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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