The Scioto County Area Foundation
The Scioto Foundation is a public charity based in Portsmouth, Ohio, serving the Scioto County area. It supports local nonprofits, schools, local governments, and students through grants, scholarships, and community programs.
The Scioto County Area Foundation at a glance
In short: The Scioto County Area Foundation gave $90.8M across 49 grants in 2024 (avg $1.9M), mostly in Ohio. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $90,843,119
- +6496.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 49
- +2.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,853,941
- +6361.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $530,909
- Total assets
- $65,415,365
- +12.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (14 of 49, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- 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 The Scioto County Area Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit the standard Scioto Foundation Grant Application for regular grant rounds, Rethinking Downtown Portsmouth, or Scioto 365. The regular grant rounds are reviewed quarterly.
- Review Cycle
- Regular grant deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. The next listed quarterly deadline is December 31, 2026. The Rethinking Downtown Portsmouth deadline is June 30, and the Scioto 365 deadline is September 30; both dates have passed for 2026.
- Deadline
- Regular grant deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.
- Next open deadline
- September 30, 2027 (Scioto 365 Grant)
- Contact
Mailing address: 303 Chillicothe Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662
Phone: (740) 354-4612
Website: https://sciotofoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Scioto County Area Foundation
Who The Scioto County Area Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Southern Ohio Museum ($27.9M). Together the top 10 received $76.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
229 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 172 grants of 229 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies the Scioto County area as its primary service area. Its mission also refers to residents of southern Ohio and northern Kentucky. In the 2024 filing, 92% of grant dollars went to Ohio recipients, 4% to West Virginia, and 3% to Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Scioto County Area Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 49 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $173K; repeat grants $2.5M. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $768K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 $1.3M (2020) to $90.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 49 grants totaling $90.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Ohio Museum Portsmouth, OH | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $27,893,517 |
| Shawnee State University Portsmouth, OH | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $24,798,623 |
| Sciotoville Christian Church Sciotoville, OH | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $4,357,801 |
| Ohio University & Branches Athens, OH | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $4,233,804 |
| Marshall University Huntington, WV | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $4,065,894 |
| Portsmouth Murals Inc Portsmouth, OH | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $2,887,673 |
| Notre Dame Schools Portsmouth, OH | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $2,593,515 |
| Morehead State University Morehead, KY | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $1,919,816 |
| University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $1,811,633 |
| Steven A Hunter Hope Fund INC Portsmouth, OH | To further the exempt purpose of the organization | $1,678,904 |
Ready to take the next step with The Scioto County Area Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 annual report separately states that the foundation ended the year with assets of $64,440,799.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $65,415,365 | $5,749,810 | $2,294,157 | $90,843,119 | 49 | $2,858,094 |
| 2023 | $58,416,070 | $8,159,831 | $1,919,903 | $1,377,142 | 48 | $1,510,862 |
| 2022 | $47,068,841 | $3,148,736 | $1,943,676 | $1,427,981 | 48 | $1,357,190 |
| 2021 | $54,852,608 | $6,211,314 | $1,986,428 | $1,373,252 | 49 | $4,693,497 |
| 2020 | $49,499,589 | $6,342,842 | $1,719,374 | $1,258,343 | 35 | $5,799,717 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve, enhance, and enrich quality of life for residents of southern Ohio and northern Kentucky by investing assets carefully, providing income for community needs and donor intentions, promoting philanthropy, partnering with community organizations, and monitoring grantmaking outcomes.
Its guidelines identify education, healthcare, community and economic development, arts and culture, social services, and civic benefit as typical funding areas. The foundation also reports supporting local fine arts organizations, schools, churches, and other organizations that provide physical and emotional support. Its website additionally lists natural resource conservation and animal welfare among the categories typically funded.
Examples of grantees’ work include the Southern Ohio Museum Corporation, which describes its mission as housing a museum and cultural center with exhibits, performing arts, and educational classes; Portsmouth Murals Inc, which says it promotes historic preservation and tourism through murals on Portsmouth’s floodwalls; and the Steven A Hunter Hope Fund, which says it works to improve the lives of economically disadvantaged children by supplying basic needs and opportunities. These are descriptions of the grantees, not the foundation.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists 49 grants totaling $90,843,119, with a median grant of $530,909 and awards ranging from $5,250 to $27,893,517. These figures are reported separately because the sources give different totals and grant counts.
The largest grants listed in the 2024 filing were $27,893,517 to the Southern Ohio Museum and $24,798,623 to Shawnee State University, both in Portsmouth. Other large awards included $4,357,801 to Sciotoville Christian Church, $4,233,804 to Ohio University & Branches, and $4,065,894 to Marshall University.
The foundation says it accepts requests from existing community organizations and newly formed nonprofit groups. Its guidelines require applicants to be recognized under Section 501(c)(3); they also state that grants are not made to individuals, although assistance may ultimately benefit individuals. Local governments are included among eligible applicants in the general grants program description.
Applications are reviewed quarterly. The guidelines call for five copies and one original, and state that incomplete applications and fax copies are not accepted. The foundation generally does not fund routine operating needs, annual giving, budget deficits, entertainment, lodging, or meal expenses; religious organizations are generally excluded unless a donor suggests otherwise, though nonreligious programs run by religious organizations may be supported. Completed projects are not reimbursed. The guidelines favor proposals addressing broad community needs, avoiding duplication, and requesting only part of a project’s total cost; they also express particular interest in seed funding for new or newly directed projects. Recipients must report how grant funds were used.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kim Cutlip as Executive Director and Joshua Howard, Debra Esham, Jodi High, Barbara Brandbury, and Chris Hamilton as board members. The annual report identifies Jodi High as Board Chair, Debbie Esham as Treasurer, Joshua Howard as Grants Review, Barb Bradbury as a member, and Chris Hamilton as a member during 2024.
The Scioto County Area Foundation is led by Kim Cutlip, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kim Cutlip
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$101K (2020) → $132K (2024)
Debra Esham
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jodi High
Board Member
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Howard
Board Member
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Brandbury
Board Member
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Hamilton
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Lee Powell (2020–2023) — Board Chair
- Former: Jonica Burke (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Josh Howard (2020) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $132K, to Kim Cutlip (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Scioto County Area Foundation
How much does The Scioto County Area Foundation give each year?
The Scioto County Area Foundation gave $90.8M across 49 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 48 grants.
What is The Scioto County Area Foundation's typical grant size?
The Scioto County Area Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $530,909, and its average grant was $1,853,941, across 49 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Scioto County Area Foundation that year got $173K on average.
Where does The Scioto County Area Foundation give grants?
The Scioto County Area Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portsmouth, OH (21 grants) and Columbus, OH (2 grants).
Who are The Scioto County Area Foundation's largest grantees?
The Scioto County Area Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Southern Ohio Museum ($27,893,517), Shawnee State University ($24,798,623) and Sciotoville Christian Church ($4,357,801), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Scioto County Area Foundation?
The Scioto County Area Foundation reported $65.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.7M.
What does The Scioto County Area Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve, enhance, and enrich quality of life for residents of southern Ohio and northern Kentucky by investing assets carefully, providing income for community needs and donor intentions, promoting philanthropy, partnering with community organizations, and monitoring grantmaking outcomes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Scioto County Area Foundation?
Submit the standard Scioto Foundation Grant Application for regular grant rounds, Rethinking Downtown Portsmouth, or Scioto 365. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Scioto County Area Foundation's EIN?
The Scioto County Area Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0157026. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- 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 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Scioto County Area Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Scioto County Area Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-scioto-county-area-foundation-morg_8e1402b94df34802bbe70c170f30faab
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510157026_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Scioto County Area Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-scioto-county-area-foundation-morg_8e1402b94df34802bbe70c170f30faab},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Scioto County Area 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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