American Electric Power (AEP) – Foundation Grants & Corporate Giving (Rolling Applications)

Charitable Grants Supporting STEM Education, Hunger Relief, Housing, and Community Wellbeing Across 11 States

American Electric Power (AEP) and the AEP Foundation provide charitable grants and corporate contributions to nonprofit organizations and public entities working to strengthen communities across the company’s service territory.

The Foundation prioritizes education, particularly science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), along with essential human services addressing hunger and housing. Additional support may be considered for environmental protection, healthcare, safety, arts, and cultural programs.

AEP’s corporate giving program also supports education, environmental initiatives, and human services benefiting communities where its operating companies provide electricity.

Requests are accepted year-round, but formal online applications are by invitation only. Organizations should contact the appropriate AEP operating company or foundation representative before applying.

Application Timeline: Rolling / Ongoing

Organization: American Electric Power (AEP) / AEP Foundation
Support Type: Corporate foundation grants and corporate charitable contributions
Geographic Focus: AEP service communities in 11 states
Funding Amount: Varies; no standard award range published

About the Funder

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 5.6 million customers across 11 states.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, AEP operates through regional electric utility companies serving communities throughout Appalachia, the Midwest, and the Southwest.

The AEP Foundation, established in 2005, supports charitable organizations working to improve education, meet basic human needs, and strengthen local communities.

AEP and its operating companies also provide direct corporate charitable contributions, employee volunteerism, and community partnerships.

Together, these programs reflect the company’s commitment to investing in the communities where its customers and employees live and work.

What This Program Supports

AEP’s charitable giving priorities include the following areas.

Education & STEM

Education is a central priority of the AEP Foundation.

The Foundation supports educational opportunities from early childhood through higher education, with particular emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Potential initiatives include:

• STEM education programs
• Early childhood education
• K–12 science and mathematics enrichment
• Technology and engineering education
• Programs expanding access to educational opportunities
• Higher education initiatives

For direct corporate contributions, AEP gives preference to pre-K–12 STEM education.

Hunger Relief & Food Security

The Foundation supports programs helping individuals and families meet essential food needs.

Examples may include:

• Food banks and food pantries
• Hunger relief initiatives
• Emergency food assistance
• Community programs improving access to nutritious food
• Services addressing food insecurity

Programs should demonstrate meaningful benefits to residents within AEP’s service communities.

Housing & Basic Human Needs

AEP prioritizes initiatives helping individuals and families access essential resources needed for stability.

Potential activities include:

• Emergency shelter
• Affordable housing
• Housing-related assistance
• Programs addressing homelessness
• Essential human services

The Foundation places particular emphasis on hunger and housing as foundational community needs.

Environmental Protection

Additional support may be considered for programs that protect the environment and improve community wellbeing.

Potential initiatives include:

• Environmental conservation
• Environmental education
• Community environmental improvement
• Programs promoting environmental stewardship

Environmental projects should demonstrate a connection to AEP communities or broader public environmental benefits.

Healthcare & Safety

AEP may consider programs promoting health, wellness, and safety.

Examples may include:

• Community healthcare initiatives
• Public safety programs
• Health-related human services
• Programs improving community wellbeing

Arts, Music & Cultural Heritage

The Foundation may also support initiatives enriching community life through:

• Arts programs
• Music education and performances
• Cultural institutions
• Cultural heritage activities
• Community-based arts and cultural programming

These activities are secondary to the Foundation’s principal education and basic human services priorities.

Eligible Support Types

Depending on the funding stream, AEP may consider:

• Nonprofit program grants
• Educational initiatives
• Human services programs
• Environmental projects
• Community health and safety programs
• Arts and cultural activities
• Capital campaigns
• Community-based charitable projects

AEP’s corporate giving guidelines allow consideration of multiyear capital campaign commitments, which generally do not exceed five years.

The Foundation and corporate giving programs have related but distinct eligibility requirements and review processes.

Eligibility & Preferences

AEP Foundation Grants

Eligible applicants include:

• 501(c)(3) public charities
• States or political subdivisions
• Government-owned or operated colleges and universities
• Exempt operating foundations

Organizations must either:

• Be located within AEP operating companies’ service territories; or
• Have a national or regional scope and a purpose benefiting the general public, the broader environment, or AEP customers.

AEP Corporate Giving

Organizations requesting direct corporate charitable contributions must:

• Have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3)
• Benefit communities within AEP’s service territory or communities with major AEP facilities
• Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws
• Maintain nondiscrimination policies consistent with AEP’s requirements

Applicants must affirm that their organizations do not discriminate based on political affiliation, religious belief, age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, or sexual orientation.

Geographic Eligibility – AEP Service States

AEP’s service territory spans portions of 11 states.

Important: Geographic eligibility is based on AEP’s actual utility service areas and communities with major company facilities, not entire states.

For example, organizations in Texas should determine whether they serve AEP Texas or SWEPCO communities.

Similarly, organizations in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee should confirm their connection to Appalachian Power’s service territory.

National or regional organizations may qualify for AEP Foundation grants when their work provides a qualifying public, environmental, or customer benefit.

Ineligible Requests

AEP Foundation Restrictions

The Foundation generally does not fund:

• Grants directly to individuals for travel, education, healthcare, or other personal purposes
• Fraternal organizations
• Veterans organizations
• Programs that are solely athletic and lack broader community or developmental goals
• Organizations with discriminatory policies

Religious organizations generally are not eligible. However, qualifying organizations may be considered for nonsectarian social service programs available to the broader community.

Corporate Giving Restrictions

Direct corporate contributions generally do not support:

• Individuals
• Religious, fraternal, service, or veterans organizations, except for qualifying nonsectarian social services benefiting the broader community
• Programs that are solely athletic and not connected to a school or youth organization with broader developmental goals

Because AEP employees already support United Way campaigns throughout the company’s service territory, additional corporate contributions to United Way agencies are limited.

Funding Amounts

AEP does not publish a standard minimum or maximum grant amount for its Foundation or corporate giving programs.

Awards vary based on:

• Funding priorities
• Geographic alignment
• Community benefit
• Project scope
• Available resources
• The appropriate AEP operating company or foundation

For corporate contributions, multiyear capital campaign commitments generally do not exceed five years.

Applicants should contact their local AEP representative to discuss appropriate funding levels and request requirements.

Timeline & Review

📅 Application Timeline: Rolling / Ongoing

📅 Application Deadline: No fixed deadline published

📅 Application Access: Invitation only

📅 Review Period: Not publicly specified

Requests for AEP Foundation grants are accepted throughout the year.

Nonprofit organizations must secure an invitation from their local AEP operating company foundation before accessing the online application.

Corporate contribution requests are also submitted electronically by invitation only.

Organizations may submit written inquiries for local or statewide projects to the appropriate operating company.

Applicants should begin the process well before funding is needed because no standard review or decision timeline is published.

Application / Request Process

Step 1: Confirm Geographic Eligibility

Determine which AEP operating company serves the community benefiting from the proposed project.

Organizations should confirm that their work falls within an eligible service area or meets the Foundation’s national or regional benefit criteria.

Step 2: Review Funding Priorities

Identify how the proposed program aligns with AEP’s charitable giving interests.

Priority areas include:

• STEM education
• Hunger relief
• Affordable housing and emergency shelter
• Environmental protection
• Healthcare and safety
• Arts and cultural enrichment

Step 3: Contact the Appropriate AEP Representative

Applicants must obtain an invitation before submitting an online Foundation or corporate contribution application.

The following contacts are published by AEP for Foundation inquiries.

SWEPCO serves portions of eastern Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

Step 4: Prepare an Initial Funding Inquiry

Organizations should be prepared to provide:

• Organization name and tax-exempt status
• Mission and services
• Geographic area served
• Description of the proposed program or project
• Community need being addressed
• Amount of funding requested
• Expected outcomes and community benefits
• Project timeline

Step 5: Submit an Invited Application

Organizations approved to apply will receive instructions for completing the appropriate online grant application.

Applicants should follow the specific requirements provided by their AEP operating company or foundation representative.

Apply / Learn More: https://www.aep.com/community/givingback/

AEP Community Programs: https://www.aep.com/community/

AEP Contact Information: https://www.aep.com/contact/

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

AEP Foundation and corporate giving opportunities are particularly well suited for organizations that:

• Serve communities within AEP’s utility service territory
• Provide STEM education or educational enrichment
• Operate food banks or hunger relief programs
• Address homelessness, emergency shelter, or affordable housing
• Support environmental conservation or community improvement
• Provide community healthcare or safety services
• Offer arts and cultural programming with meaningful community benefits
• Can establish a relationship with a local AEP operating company

The program may be especially valuable for established community-based nonprofits seeking corporate support for ongoing programs, specific projects, or qualifying capital initiatives.

Because applications are invitation-only, organizations should begin by contacting the appropriate AEP representative rather than searching for a publicly accessible grant application.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Rolling / Ongoing
Application Access: Invitation only
Funding Amount: Not publicly specified
Typical Lead Time: Contact the local operating company well in advance
Geographic Focus: Eligible service communities in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia
Primary Focus Areas: STEM education, hunger relief, housing, basic human services
Additional Areas: Environment, healthcare, safety, arts, and cultural heritage
Best Suited For: Established nonprofits and eligible public entities serving AEP communities and seeking charitable support aligned with local needs