American Electric Power Foundation
The American Electric Power Foundation is the charitable/private foundation of American Electric Power (AEP), headquartered in Wilmington, DE, that funds education (with emphasis on STEM), basic human services (hunger, housing), environment, health/safety and the arts. Grant and tax (Form 990‑PF) information is published on AEP’s official site and grants are typically handled via local AEP operating company foundations by invitation.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A nonprofit with programming in AEP priority areas (STEM education, hunger/human services, housing, environment, health/safety, arts) operating inside an AEP service territory or with a demonstrable local partnership and capacity for employee/community engagement.
Good Fit
- • Located in an AEP operating company service area (especially Ohio).
- • Project aligns with STEM, hunger relief, housing, workforce development, youth or arts priorities.
- • Existing relationship or invitation from a local AEP operating company foundation or staff contact.
- • Capacity to use smaller one-time grants or to manage larger multi-year investments.
- • Opportunities for employee participation, sponsorship, or local visibility.
Geography
Observed giving is geographically concentrated: while grants reached 21 states, roughly 65% of dollars flowed to Ohio in the latest year, indicating a strong in-state concentration.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows a broad recipient base (793 grants to 684 distinct organizations) across many program types and sizes, with modest dollar concentration (top five ≈11%), indicating high institutional and mission variety.
New Applicants
Direct application is invitation-driven through local operating company foundations, but the foundation funded about 322 new recipients in 2023, so new entrants are possible primarily via local relationships rather than an open public RFP.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
