FirstEnergy Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 34-6514181 · since 1963firstenergycorp.com/community/firstenergy_foundation.html·Delaware, Ohio, Pennsylvania·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$7.2M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$125 to $18,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$1,375

Typical grant (median)

151 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The Foundation accepts requests only by invitation, so a small charity should not send an unsolicited proposal and should first contact its Community Involvement Department with an inquiry.
Its typical grant falls between $125 and $18,000, with a median of $2,500, so a modest request fits its usual pattern; its largest grant, about $5,300,000 to American Online Giving Foundation, an organisation it pays every year that regrants to other organisations, shows that the typical band is not a ceiling.
Its themes are housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development and STEM initiatives, so work outside these is a weaker fit.
The filing shows that 98% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so giving looks relationship-led and a first approach may be hard to win.
Government or public administration entities, organisations receiving substantial public tax funding, and applicants seeking grants for individuals, research, equipment or capital, salaries, or transport costs generally should not apply, and any program request above $25,000 needs a separate proposal and a meeting with the Foundation President.

Overview

FirstEnergy Foundation is a US private foundation based in Akron, OH.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organisations across FirstEnergy’s operational area, helping them build capacity, strengthen outcomes and deliver lasting impact. Its giving priorities reflect community needs and align with the company’s strategic focus: housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development and STEM initiatives. It does not provide grants to individuals or support political or legislative activities. Among its general limitations, it does not usually fund organisations that receive substantial public tax funding or government or public administration entities. Its stated priorities are tied to community needs and the company’s strategic focus.

Themes

Housing stability
Hunger relief
Workforce development
STEM initiatives

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Delaware, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

What They Don't Fund

Grants to individuals
Political or legislative activities
Organizations that receive substantial public tax funding (generally)
Government or public administration entities (generally)
Fraternal, religious, labor, athletic or social organizations, unless funding is designated for an eligible program open to all beneficiaries, including those not affiliated with the host organization (generally)
International, foreign affairs or national security organizations (generally)
Research (generally)
Equipment or capital purchases (generally)
Loans or second‑party giving, including endowments, debt retirement or foundations (generally)
Public or private secondary schools (Pre‑K–12) (generally)
Organizations classified as public charities under Section 509(a)(3) (generally)
Salaries, stipends or scholarships (generally)
Transportation costs (generally)
Animal protection, welfare or veterinary services (generally)
Correctional facilities or addiction treatment agencies (generally)

How to apply

Organisations with grant inquiries should contact the Community Involvement Department. Program grant requests exceeding $25,000 require a separate proposal and a meeting with the Foundation President.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 1,546 grants to organisations were $2,500 or less.

What the foundation says:

The Foundation prioritises housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development and STEM initiatives, reflecting community needs and the company’s strategic focus.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Delaware45%

Ohio26%

Pennsylvania16%

New Jersey5%

West Virginia4%

Maryland2%

6 other states: 2%

The largest single recipient received 45% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations FirstEnergy Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
58% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

151 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $1,375

How much do they typically give?

Share of 151 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k40%

$1k–$2.5k19%

$2.5k–$5k13%

$5k–$10k6%

$10k–$25k11%

$25k–$50k3%

$50k–$100k2%

$100k–$250k4%

$250k–$500k1%

$500k–$1M0%

$1M and over1%

Median $1,375 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

American Online Giving Foundation · Benevity community impact fund
$5,323,8232024 tax year
United Way of Summit and Medina · Health & Safety
$353,9812024 tax year
United Way of Berks County · Health & Safety
$161,8412024 tax year
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania · Health & Safety
$137,9702024 tax year
Greater Cleveland Food Bank · Health & Safety
$100,1002024 tax year
Boy Scouts of America · Civic
$100,0002024 tax year
Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation · Arts & Culture
$100,0002024 tax year
Akron 200 · Civic
$100,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Lorna Wisham — President
Darnella Robertson — Assistant Secretary
Bill Wang — Treasurer
Michelle Henry — Trustee
Irene M Prezelj — Trustee
Antonio Fernandez — Trustee
Mary M Swann — Secretary

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$9,502,113	$9,164,168	$118,299,287	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$6,175,318	$5,276,512	$126,610,340	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$7,368,976	$7,165,300	$133,940,303	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.