The Scripps Howard Foundation
The Scripps Howard Foundation is a private corporate foundation established in 1962 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as an affiliated entity with the Scripps Howard Fund, a related public charity. The foundation serves as a major philanthropic vehicle for The E.W. Scripps Company and the Scripps and Howard families, functioning as the largest corporate foundation in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$69.4M
+15.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.4M
+7.7% YoY
Grant Count
819
-5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+13.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Scripps Howard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to create an informed and engaged world through three core pillars:
- Advancing journalism education and excellence in journalism, including support for quality journalism education and professional development
- Promoting childhood literacy, with particular emphasis on children living in poverty
- Supporting vital communities where The E.W. Scripps Company operates, including support for sound educational programs, strong families, vital social services, enriching arts and culture, and inclusive civic affairs
The foundation strives to advance the cause of a free press through support of excellence in journalism and professional development in the field.
Grantmaking
Notable grants included $675,706 to the International Center for Journalists for the Journalism Fund - Disarming Disinformation Grant and $628,317 to the University of Colorado Foundation for the Ted Scripps Environmental Program.
Grant Range
** $1,000 to $1,000,000+, with typical awards ranging from $25 to $818,475
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a national focus with emphasis on:
- Greater Cincinnati
- Scripps media markets
- Areas of The E.W. Scripps Company operations, particularly Ohio, Florida, and Michigan
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $69,447,710 (2024)
Total Revenues: $19,459,483 (2024)
Total Expenses: $10,336,787 (2024)
Total Giving: $7,313,892 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing)
Staff: 12 employees
Historical Growth: The foundation's annual budget expanded from $100,000 in 1971 to over $100 million in total assets by recent years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $69,447,710 | $59,946,932 | $59,030,616 |
| Revenue | $19,459,483 | $11,898,540 | $10,855,424 |
| Expenses | $10,336,787 | $9,539,374 | $9,740,430 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,879,050 | $9,225,437 | $9,116,446 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,340,868 | $4,740,073 | $4,068,348 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,119,159 | $3,194,627 | $3,139,901 |
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
3 open opportunities from The Scripps Howard Foundation
Diversity and Inclusion in Journalism Grants
The Scripps Howard Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Environmental Fellowship Program Grant
The Scripps Howard Foundation
Amount
US $80,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Scripps Howard Journalism Awards Grant
The Scripps Howard Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Amphi Foundation ($10,000), American Heart Association Inc ($6,300), Aaron James Lagoe ($6,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Strong Pismo Beach, CA | Volunteer Gift | $1,250 |
| 718 IS Booster Club Langley AFB, VA | Community Market Grant | $2,000 |
| 718 IS Booster Club Langley AFB, VA | Community Market Grant | $1,000 |
| Aaron James Lagoe St Paul, MN | Scripps Howard Awards prize check | $6,000 |
| Abbys Legacy Foundation Virginia Beach, VA | Volunteer Gift | $1,000 |
| Abdullahi Tsanni Nuhu Washington, DC | Journalism Internship support fund | $1,600 |
| Acadiana Animal Aid Carencro, LA | Community Market Grant | $1,000 |
| Adrian C Walker Boston, MA | Scripps Howard Awards prize check | $2,000 |
| Adult Resource Alliance Billings, MT | Volunteer Gift | $1,250 |
| AIDS Outreach Bozeman, MT | Volunteer Gift | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: Liz Carter
General Contact: (513) 977-3035
Mailing Address: PO Box 5380, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5380
Phone: 513-977-3000
Website: https://scripps.com/fund/
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the Scripps Howard Fund and Scripps Howard Foundation jointly distributed more than $11 million in charitable gifts, representing a significant commitment to their core mission areas. The organizations continue to invest in local communities through targeted grantmaking in journalism education, childhood literacy, and community development initiatives.
Scripps Howard Fund, Foundation invest $900K in local communities - MoversSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Scripps Howard Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to create an informed and engaged world through three core pillars: • **Advancing journalism education** and excellence in journalism, including support for quality journalism education and professional development • **Promoting childhood literacy**, with particular emphasis on children living in poverty • **Supporting vital communities** where The E.W. Scripps Company operates, including support for sound educational programs, strong families, vital social services,…
How do I apply for a grant from The Scripps Howard Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $1,000 to $1,000,000+, with typical awards ranging from $25 to $818,475 **Annual Giving:** $9.8 million (2024); $11 million in charitable gifts distributed jointly with the Scripps Howard Fund (2025) **Application Process:** • Online application portal available at https://scrippshowardfoundation.submittable.com/submit • Applications close in February with decisions announced in April • Decision timeline: approximately 2 months **Program-Specific Contacts:** • Development/Gifts…
Where does The Scripps Howard Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains a national focus with emphasis on: • Greater Cincinnati • Scripps media markets • Areas of The E.W. Scripps Company operations, particularly Ohio, Florida, and Michigan
What size grants does The Scripps Howard Foundation award?
In 2024, The Scripps Howard Foundation awarded 819 grants totaling $7.4M — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Scripps Howard Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Scripps Howard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Scripps Howard Foundation's EIN?
The Scripps Howard Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6025114. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Scripps Howard 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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