The A K Stephenson Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on higher education scholarship support, primarily for Ohio-based universities. Grants are focused and purposeful — funding student scholarships and occasional general operating support at colleges and universities, with a clear preference for repeated commitments to select institutions.
Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants, with repeated multi-year support to the same institutions (notably Miami University). Funding is targeted to higher education scholarships rather than broad community causes.
A K Stephenson Fdn Char Tr Agy’s recent giving is defined by scholarship support for Ohio universities, with repeated awards to a small set of institutions and occasional general operating support for university programs. Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, received some of the largest grants in the file, including $61,500 in 2023, $33,000 in 2024, and $39,000 in 2025 for scholarships. Heidelberg University in Tiffin also appears as a repeated scholarship recipient, alongside Ohio State University, Ohio University, and other Midwestern colleges. The pattern points to a funder that uses direct student aid as its main vehicle, while sometimes backing the scholarship infrastructure at institutions rather than only one-off student awards. The foundation’s grantmaking also reaches beyond Ohio into nearby states such as Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia, but the core portfolio stays centered on postsecondary access. It funds both public and private universities, and its largest awards are still relatively focused in size compared with the overall asset base.
Scholarship support is the clearest throughline. Miami University received $39,000 in 2025 for scholarships, following earlier awards of $61,500 in 2023 and $33,000 in 2024. Heidelberg University received $25,500 in 2024 and $19,000 in 2023, both for scholarships, showing repeated backing for the same institution over multiple years. The foundation also supports student aid at Ohio University, with $14,000 in 2024 and $11,000 in 2025 for scholarships. Beyond pure scholarship awards, it has made general operating support to universities, including $20,000 to the University of Cincinnati in 2025. Its portfolio also includes regional private and public institutions such as Xavier University, Bowling Green State University, Wright State University, and Cedarville University, all tied to student financial aid.
Typical grants are small and targeted: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $3,000, and the 75th percentile is $4,000. Even with a few larger scholarship commitments, most awards cluster near that range. The same universities appear across multiple years, especially Miami University, Heidelberg University, Ohio University, and Ohio State University, which indicates repeat support rather than isolated one-time gifts. The foundation also gives directly to institutions rather than through an application portal described in the data. Program-related investments are not part of its activity, and the record shows individual-level grantmaking through scholarship support.
$162K
$2.4M
$207K
$235K
Most grants fall between $2K and $4K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$4K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in OH.
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Notable grantees: Miami University, Heidelberg University, Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, with 96 grants to US-based organizations. Ohio is the top state by grant count, and the recipient cities most often seen in the recent grants list include Oxford, Tiffin, Cincinnati, Athens, Columbus, and Dayton. Outside Ohio, awards also reached Lexington, Kentucky; Goshen, Indiana; and Huntington and Morgantown, West Virginia. The foundation’s HQ is in Milwaukee, but recipient activity is concentrated elsewhere, especially in Ohio.
The foundation primarily funds higher education scholarships, especially at Ohio universities. The recent grants list shows repeated scholarship awards to Miami University, Heidelberg University, Ohio University, and Ohio State University, along with some general operating support for university programs.
Typical awards are modest: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $3,000, and the 75th percentile is $4,000. Recent grants include many scholarships in that range, with a smaller number of larger commitments to universities.
Yes. Miami University, Heidelberg University, Ohio University, and Ohio State University each appear in multiple years of the recent grants list, which suggests repeated support rather than one-time grants.
Ohio is the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities in Ohio include Oxford, Tiffin, Cincinnati, Athens, Columbus, Dayton, Bowling Green, Cedarville, and Steubenville.
Recipients are colleges and universities, with grant purposes centered on scholarships and occasional general operating support. The foundation also funds individual-level scholarship support, aligning with its focus on postsecondary education access and student financial aid.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY | OXFORD, OH | $39,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OHIO UNIVERSITY | ATHENS, OH | $11,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY | CEDARVILLE, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CINCINNATI STATE | CINCINNATI, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY | DAYTON, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | LEXINGTON, KY | $4,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA | CHARLESTON, SC | $4,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY | ADA, OH | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CENTER COLLEGE | DANVILLE, KY | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MT ST JOSEPH | CINCINNATI, OH | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ROSE-HULMAN INSTITUTE | TERRE HAUTE, IN | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| EMBRY RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL | DAYTONA BEACH, FL | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, OH | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA | EVANSVILLE, IN | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY | CRESTVIEW HILLS, KY | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY | MONTGOMERY, AL | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MARIETTA COLLEGE | MARIETTA, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY | NEW CONCORD, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY | MORGANTOWN, WV | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HANOVER COLLEGE | HANOVER, IN | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CHRIST COLLEGE SCHOOL OF NURSING | CINCINNATI, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY | HUNTINGTON, WV | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY | SPRINGFIELD, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA | GRAND FORKS, ND | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY | ADRIAN, MI | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LEWIS UNIVERSITY | ROMEOVILLE, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LEE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, TN | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY | BLUFFTON, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| XAVIER UNIVERSITY | CINCINNATI, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY | OXFORD, OH | $33,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY | TIFFIN, OH | $25,500 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | STEUBENVILLE, OH | $16,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO UNIVERSITY | ATHENS, OH | $14,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | LEXINGTON, KY | $13,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY | GOSHEN, IN | $6,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY | BOWLING GREEN, OH | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| XAVIER UNIVERSITY | CINCINNATI, OH | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MARIETTA COLLEGE | MARIETTA, OH | $3,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HOCKING COLLEGE | NELSONVILLE, OH | $3,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY | NEW CONCORD, OH | $3,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY | MONTGOMERY, AL | $3,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON | DAYTON, OH | $3,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LEE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, TN | $3,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HANOVER COLLEGE | HANOVER, IN | $3,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
$39,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
OHIO UNIVERSITY
$11,000SCHOLARSHIPS
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CINCINNATI STATE
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY
SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
$4,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
$4,000SCHOLARSHIPS
OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CENTER COLLEGE
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MT ST JOSEPH
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ROSE-HULMAN INSTITUTE
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
EMBRY RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MARIETTA COLLEGE
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
HANOVER COLLEGE
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CHRIST COLLEGE SCHOOL OF NURSING
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MARSHALL UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
LEWIS UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
LEE UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
$33,000SCHOLARSHIPS
HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY
$25,500SCHOLARSHIPS
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$16,000SCHOLARSHIPS
OHIO UNIVERSITY
$14,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
$13,000SCHOLARSHIPS
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
$4,000SCHOLARSHIPS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY
$4,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MARIETTA COLLEGE
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
HOCKING COLLEGE
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
LEE UNIVERSITY
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS
HANOVER COLLEGE
$3,000SCHOLARSHIPS