Firstenergy Foundation
The FirstEnergy Foundation is a private foundation based in Akron, Ohio, established in 1963. It operates as the philanthropic arm of FirstEnergy Corp., supporting nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations within the service areas of FirstEnergy's electric companies and regions where the company conducts business.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$124.9M
-0.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.2M
+35.8% YoY
Grant Count
151
-29.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$47K
+92.5% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission centers on strengthening the social and economic fabric of communities through strategic philanthropic investments. The Foundation supports transformative organizations that enhance the vitality, sustainability, and diversity of the communities it serves.
Primary funding priorities include:
- Education — Supporting educational initiatives and workforce development
- Safety Initiatives — Promoting key safety programs in communities
- Workforce Development — Empowering communities' workforce development and educational initiatives
- Economic Development — Promoting local and regional economic development
- Community Vitality — Improving quality of life and supporting employee leadership and volunteer interests aligned with business interests
- Health and Social Justice — Supporting organizations addressing health, safety, and social justice initiatives
The Foundation does not direct grants to individuals or to political or legislative activities.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$3,000
Average Grant
$15,000
Review Cycle
; applications are reviewed as they are received
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation supports organizations primarily in:
- Ohio — Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, and Toledo Edison service areas
- Pennsylvania — Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power, and West Penn Power service areas
- New Jersey — Jersey Central Power & Light service area
- West Virginia and Maryland — Mon Power and Potomac Edison service areas
Grantmaking reaches organizations across 20 states, with Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Delaware accounting for 72% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $124.9 million (as of 2024)
- Annual Income: $16.2 million
- Total Giving (2024): $7.165 million
- Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $39.5 million in 2011 to $124.9 million in 2024
- Historical Giving Trends: Annual giving has decreased from $9.8 million in 2020 to $5.3 million in 2023; grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $18.5 million distributed across 2,362 grants
- Tax Status: Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $124,917,059 | $125,969,538 | $133,802,602 |
| Revenue | $6,316,497 | $341,463 | $5,501,776 |
| Expenses | $7,368,976 | $6,175,318 | $9,502,113 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,227,759 | $5,350,340 | $9,248,343 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,234,972 | $2,599,542 | $5,346,128 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,496,248 | $5,953,813 | $6,305,136 |
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
152 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Firstenergy Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Online Giving Foundation Inc ($5,323,823), Greater Cleveland Food Bank Inc ($100,100), Akron 200 Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AKRON 200 INC Akron, OH | Civic | $100,000 |
| AKRON ART MUSEUM Akron, OH | Arts & Culture | $1,000 |
| AKRON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Akron, OH | Health & Safety | $5,775 |
| AKRON CHILDRENS MUSEUM Akron, OH | Education | $50,000 |
| AKRON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Akron, OH | Civic | $25 |
| AKRON ZOOLOGICAL PARK Akron, OH | Civic | $1,000 |
| AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOODBANK Akron, OH | Health & Safety | $1,078 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOC - CLEVELAND Beachwood, OH | Health & Safety | $1,405 |
| ALZHEIMERS DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC Philadelphia, PA | Health & Safety | $200 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC Atlanta, GA | Health & Safety | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lorna Wisham — Principal Officer (retired in 2025; the Foundation is seeking a new leader)
- The Foundation is governed by 8 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025 Activity:**
Announced distribution of more than $2 million in the first half of 2025 to support local nonprofits addressing hunger relief, youth education, and disaster relief efforts
FirstEnergy Foundation awards grants in education, social justice, healthThe employee-driven United Way Campaign generated more than $1 million, with more than 800 organizations receiving direct donations and 104 United Way agencies benefiting from matching contributions
Announced the retirement of Lorna Wisham and is seeking a new Foundation leader
**Investing with Purpose Initiative:**
Launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 social justice events
FirstEnergy Foundation awards grants in education, social justice, healthFocused on supporting nonprofit organizations advancing health and safety, workforce development, educational, and social justice initiatives
FirstEnergy Foundation awards grants in education, social justice, healthDistributed $7 million collectively to nearly 200 nonprofit organizations across FirstEnergy's six-state service territory
Represents additional commitment beyond the company's annual charitable giving, which averages approximately $10 million per year
**Ongoing Support:**
The Foundation marks a decade of support for community programs, including initiatives like "Fill a Glass with Hope"
FirstEnergy Foundation Marks 10 Years of Support for Fill a Glass ...Provides grants to organizations addressing critical community needs including food security, youth development, and emergency services
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Firstenergy Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission centers on strengthening the social and economic fabric of communities through strategic philanthropic investments. The Foundation supports transformative organizations that enhance the vitality, sustainability, and diversity of the communities it serves. Primary funding priorities include: • **Education** — Supporting educational initiatives and workforce development • **Safety Initiatives** — Promoting key safety programs in communities • **Workforce Development** — E…
How do I apply for a grant from Firstenergy Foundation?
**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Total assets: $124.9 million • Total annual giving: Approximately $7.2 million (2024) • Median grant size: $3,000 • Average grant size: $15,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $25 to $9.8 million • The Foundation has made 2,578 grants totaling $38.7 million to 935 unique organizations **Recent Activity:** • In the first half of 2025, the Foundation distributed more than $2 million to support local nonprofits, with nearly $1.1 million awarded in the first two…
Where does Firstenergy Foundation make grants?
The Foundation supports organizations primarily in: • **Ohio** — Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, and Toledo Edison service areas • **Pennsylvania** — Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power, and West Penn Power service areas • **New Jersey** — Jersey Central Power & Light service area • **West Virginia and Maryland** — Mon Power and Potomac Edison service areas Grantmaking reaches organizations across 20 states, with Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Delaware accounting for 72% of all grants.
What size grants does Firstenergy Foundation award?
In 2024, Firstenergy Foundation awarded 151 grants totaling $7.2M — an average of about $47K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Firstenergy Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Firstenergy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Firstenergy 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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