The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is a private foundation based in Marysville, Ohio. It supports nonprofit partnerships and grant programs focused on gardens and green spaces, youth, environmental improvement, and community resilience.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation at a glance
In short: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation gave $2.0M across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $86K), top state Ohio. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,969,500
- +12.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $85,630
- +7.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $72,000
- Total assets
- $398,016
- -53.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (3 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (22% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2023 filing lists an electronic, web-based application process.
- Review Cycle
- The 2023 filing lists no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The 2023 filing lists no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
Mailing address: 14111 Scottslawn Road, Marysville, OH 43041
Phone: (937) 644-0011
Email: smgfoundation@scotts.com
Website: https://scottsmiraclegro.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 The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
Who The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Franklin Park Conservatory ($215K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 123 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says its philanthropic mission is focused primarily in North America and describes partnerships with nonprofits nationwide. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Ohio (22%), Florida (20%), Virginia (13%), Vermont (11%), and Illinois (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 23 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $64K; repeat grants $89K. How we count
Medians: $72K first-time, $65K repeat.
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−15%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2024) to $3.1M (2021). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Park Conservatory Columbus, OH | Gardens - Other | $215,000 |
| Kidsgardening Burlington, VT | Gardens - Other | $215,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Kissimmee, FL | Environment | $200,000 |
| Restore America's Estuaries Arlington, VA | Environment | $160,000 |
| Alliance for Water Efficiency Chicago, IL | Environment | $130,000 |
| Ocean Research & Conservation Association Inc Vero Beach, FL | Environment | $130,000 |
| Keep American Beautiful Stamford, CT | Garedens-Other | $100,000 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Washington, DC | Environment | $100,000 |
| National Head Start Association Philadelphia, PA | Gardens - Other | $100,000 |
| National Recreation and Park Association Ashburn, VA | Environment | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Scotts Miracle-Gro 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $398,016 | $1,532,886 | $1,993,488 | $1,969,500 | 23 | $1,969,500 | $32,886 | $46,140 |
| 2024 | $858,618 | $1,551,014 | $1,780,911 | $1,757,968 | 22 | $1,757,968 | $51,014 | $53,744 |
| 2023 | $1,088,515 | $1,620,518 | $2,561,074 | $2,575,500 | 24 | $2,575,500 | $37,818 | $59,917 |
| 2022 | $2,069,071 | $1,768,884 | $2,294,152 | $2,307,993 | 25 | $2,307,993 | $11,584 | $148,876 |
| 2021 | $2,634,339 | $21,000 | $2,104,246 | $3,059,124 | 29 | — | $1,000 | $175,191 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2025 — 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 website says it seeks to help current and future generations access gardens and green spaces, clean water resources, and a better future. It organizes its philanthropy around four pillars: community enhancement through gardens and green spaces, youth empowerment, environmental improvement, and community resilience.
Its 2025 grants included environmental work and garden-related projects. The grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported: the Alliance for Water Efficiency says it promotes efficient and sustainable water use; the National Recreation and Park Association says it works to build strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through parks and recreation; and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation says it advances conservation through partnerships and science-based programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $1,969,500. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $215,000, with a median of $72,000.
Among the largest grants were $215,000 to Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, and $215,000 to KidsGardening in Burlington, Vermont, both listed for gardens; $200,000 to The Nature Conservancy in Kissimmee, Florida, for the environment; and $160,000 to Restore America’s Estuaries in Arlington, Virginia, for the environment. Other substantial grants included $130,000 each to the Alliance for Water Efficiency and Ocean Research & Conservation Association, both listed for the environment.
The foundation’s website describes two garden-grant partnerships. The GroMoreGood Garden Grants with the National Head Start Association provide garden kits, educational resources, and training to Head Start programs. The website listed awards of $2,500–$5,000 and a total of $50,000 for the 2026 initiative, with a January 30, 2026 deadline; that deadline has passed. The GroMoreGood Grassroots Grants with KidsGardening were described as planning to fund 120 programs with a total of $100,000 in 2026. The website said applications would open January 6, 2026, a date that has passed.
The 2023 filing stated that awards are made only to 501(c)(3) organizations, applications are electronic and web-based, and there are no deadlines listed on the filing. The company’s corporate-giving policy says it offers monetary and in-kind support to qualified nonprofits with measurable impact in communities where it operates. That policy excludes, among others, individuals, private foundations, lobbying and partisan groups, endowment campaigns, and organizational operating expenses.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Brian Herrington, Paula Powell, and Katherine Dickens as directors; Brian Gorka as vice president and treasurer; Terri Ott as vice president and controller; and Bernard Asirifi as assistant secretary.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brian Herrington
Director
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Dickens
Director
Vice President & Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula Powell
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bernard Asirifi
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Gorka
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terri Ott
Vice President & Controller
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Patricia Ziegler (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Ethan Anderson (2022–2023) — Former Vice President & Treasurer
- Former: Alan Heap (2021–2022) — Former Vice President & Treasurer
- Former: Jim King (2021–2022) — Former President
- Former: Ann Aquillo (2022) — Former Director
- Former: Mark Slavens (2021) — Director
- Former: Su Lok (2021) — Vice President & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
How much does The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation give each year?
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation gave $2.0M across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 22 grants.
What is The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's typical grant size?
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $72,000, and its average grant was $85,630, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation that year got $64K on average.
Where does The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation give grants?
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's top state is Ohio, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (20%) and Virginia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (3 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Marysville, OH (2 grants).
Does The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Environment" (12 grants), "Gardens - Other" (6 grants) and "Social Justice" (4 grants).
Who are The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's largest grantees?
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Franklin Park Conservatory ($215,000), Kidsgardening ($215,000) and The Nature Conservancy ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation?
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation reported $398K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $46K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website says it seeks to help current and future generations access gardens and green spaces, clean water resources, and a better future. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation?
The 2023 filing lists an electronic, web-based application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's EIN?
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1794169. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 5, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-scotts-miracle-gro-foundation-morg_35968e0f2bd84d0ca064c3f93fade289
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_611794169_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-scotts-miracle-gro-foundation-morg_35968e0f2bd84d0ca064c3f93fade289},
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 Scotts Miracle-Gro 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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