Scripps Howard Fund
The Scripps Howard Fund is a public charity based in Cincinnati, Ohio, established by The E.W. Scripps Company. It supports journalism education, childhood literacy and local initiatives, including programs delivered in communities served by Scripps.
Scripps Howard Fund at a glance
In short: Scripps Howard Fund gave $537K across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $18K). 77% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $537,378
- +39.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- +15.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,913
- +20.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,603
- Total assets
- $1,563,886
- +14.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 77% first-time grantees (23 of 30, 2024)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Scripps Howard Fund
- Invitation Only
-
The Fund’s website provides application information for Greater Cincinnati childhood literacy grants and for the community-college journalism program. Outside Greater Cincinnati, grants are made on an invitation basis only. The community-college program’s published eligibility rules exclude high-school programs and internship programs; partnerships are welcomed, and existing programs may qualify if the request explains how funds would expand them.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 5380, Cincinnati, OH 45201
Phone: (513) 977-3000
Website: https://scripps.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Scripps Howard Fund
Greater Cincinnati Literacy Grant ($100,000 - Collaborative Program)
Scripps Howard Fund
Amount
$100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Roy W. Howard Fellowships
Scripps Howard Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Scripps Howard Fellowship
Scripps Howard Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Scripps Howard Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Scripps National Spelling Bee ($100K). Together the top 10 received $343K.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 86 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund makes childhood literacy grants in Greater Cincinnati and supports programs in communities served by The E.W. Scripps Company. Its community-college journalism grant program is open to eligible institutions based in the United States. The 2024 filing also lists grants for organizations in multiple locations, including food-assistance grants connected to Scripps stations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is Scripps Howard Fund open to new grantees?
77%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 23 of 30 grantees (77%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 13% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2024). 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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $386K (2023) to $537K (2024). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $537K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scripps National Spelling Bee | Adam R. Scripps Foundation grant for centennial celebration | $100,000 |
| University of Memphis Foundation | Journalism Fund - Open Source Journalism Program | $100,000 |
| Forgotten Harvest Inc | CIC - WXYZ - Food for Families | $31,403 |
| America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend | CIC - WTXL - hurricane relief | $20,000 |
| Surel's Place (Voces Internship of Idaho) | Journalism Internships | $18,000 |
| Feeding San Diego | CIC - KGTV - Month of a Million Meals | $15,000 |
| Golden Harvest Foodbank Inc | CIC - Scripps News - hurricane relief | $15,000 |
| MANNA Foodbank Inc | CIC - Scripps News - hurricane relief | $15,000 |
| Feeding America Tampa Bay Inc | CIC - WFTS - hurricane relief | $14,617 |
| United Way of Indian River County | CIC - WPTV - hurricane relief | $14,339 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,563,886 | $2,643,571 | $2,116,086 | $537,378 | 30 |
| 2023 | $1,366,735 | $1,845,935 | $1,525,032 | $385,666 | 26 |
| 2022 | $687,851 | $1,414,215 | $752,777 | $454,133 | 30 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund states that its mission is to create informed and engaged communities through journalism education, childhood literacy and local causes. Its website also describes its mission as engaging communities by championing those areas.
For journalism education, the Fund supports students and organizations advancing journalism, including through grants for experiential learning and community journalism. Its childhood literacy funding includes new or expanded programs, books and materials, summer reading, support for children who have difficulty reading, and home libraries for children from low-income households. In Greater Cincinnati, the Fund also supports communication internships for college students at local nonprofits.
The Fund’s 2024 filing describes its work broadly as assisting individuals, families and organizations with social service, educational, civic or other needs. Among the grantees named in that filing, the University of Memphis Foundation received funding for an open-source journalism program, and food banks and hunger-relief organizations received support for food assistance and hurricane relief.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Fund reported 30 grants totaling $537,378. Grant amounts ranged from $5,399 to $100,000, with a median of $10,603.
The largest reported grants included $100,000 to Scripps National Spelling Bee for an Adam R. Scripps Foundation grant for its centennial celebration, and $100,000 to the University of Memphis Foundation for a journalism fund and open-source journalism program. Other notable grants included $31,403 to Forgotten Harvest Inc. for Food for Families; $20,000 to America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend for hurricane relief; and $18,000 to Surel’s Place (Voces Internship of Idaho) for journalism internships.
The Fund’s website describes a one-time community-college journalism grant of up to $15,000 for eligible U.S. community colleges and regional branch colleges to create, expand or improve experiential journalism programs, with a focus on underrepresented students. The published 2025 application deadline was April 30, 2025, so that cycle has passed. The website also describes a 2026–27 Community College Experiential Journalism Grants program, with awards of up to $15,000 for selected schools in a cohort.
In Greater Cincinnati, organizations may apply for childhood literacy grants in small-grant and large-grant categories. The website lists an annual application window from January 1 through February 13, with awards announced in April; the 2026 window has passed. Organizations outside Greater Cincinnati receive grants only by invitation and only in regions where Scripps operates.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Fund’s 2024 filing lists Carolyn Micheli as Lead Trustee. It lists Liz Carter and Meredith Delaney as President, CEO and Trustee, with Delaney’s service beginning in May 2024. Other listed trustees are David Giles, Secretary and Trustee; Rebecca Riegelsberger, Treasurer and Trustee; Austin Heidt; Christina Hartman; Dean Littleton; Eli Scripps; and Jack Howard-Potter.
Scripps Howard Fund is led by Liz Carter, President, CEO & Trustee on every filing since 2022; none of the 23 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Liz Carter
President, CEO & Trustee
On filings since 2022
7.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Delaney
President, CEO & Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
7.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Austin Heidt
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Micheli
Lead Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Hartman
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Giles
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dean Littleton
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eli Scripps
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Howard-Potter
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay Kaufman
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie McGehee
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate O'Brian
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Choal
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leon Clark
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Knuston
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Scagliotti
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ray Granado
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Riegelsberger
Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roy Perkins
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Brickner Anderson
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keisha Taylor-Starr
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lyn Plantinga
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Scripps
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Cheryle Harrison (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Keisha Taylor (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Ellen Weiss (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Edward Scripps (2022) — Emeritus Trustee
- Former: Margaret Scripps Klenzing (2022) — Emeritus Trustee
- Former: Pamela Howard (2022) — Emeritus Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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 Scripps Howard Fund
How much does Scripps Howard Fund give each year?
Scripps Howard Fund gave $537K across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $386K across 26 grants.
What is Scripps Howard Fund's typical grant size?
Scripps Howard Fund's median grant in 2024 was $10,603, and its average grant was $17,913, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Scripps Howard Fund that year got $19K on average.
Does Scripps Howard Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Scripps Howard Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "CIC - WPTV - hurricane relief" (9 grants) and "CIC - Scripps News - hurricane relief" (3 grants).
Who are Scripps Howard Fund's largest grantees?
Scripps Howard Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Scripps National Spelling Bee ($100,000), University of Memphis Foundation ($100,000) and Forgotten Harvest Inc ($31,403), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Scripps Howard Fund?
Scripps Howard Fund reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.6M.
What does Scripps Howard Fund fund?
The Fund states that its mission is to create informed and engaged communities through journalism education, childhood literacy and local causes. Its website also describes its mission as engaging communities by championing those areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Scripps Howard Fund?
The Fund’s website provides application information for Greater Cincinnati childhood literacy grants and for the community-college journalism program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Scripps Howard Fund make grants?
The Fund makes childhood literacy grants in Greater Cincinnati and supports programs in communities served by The E.W. Scripps Company. Its community-college journalism grant program is open to eligible institutions based in the United States. The 2024 filing also lists grants for organizations in multiple locations, including food-assistance grants connected to Scripps stations.
What is Scripps Howard Fund's EIN?
Scripps Howard Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2877540. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
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