The American Electric Power Foundation was created in 2005 to provide a permanent, ongoing resource – independent of our financial performance – for charitable initiatives. This stability allows us to make multi-year commitments within and outside of the communities we serve. One of the Foundation's largest commitments is to the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation. The Foundation will match up to $10 million of the city's contributions to transform the Scioto River waterfront into a modern park, located near AEP's corporate headquarters. The Foundation donated $11.5 million to 68 organizations in 2007.

The Scioto Mile project seeks to create a signature riverfront park in Columbus's downtown area.