Corporate Giving Guidelines

Our Commitment

AEP's Community Relations goal is: "To support and play an active, positive role in communities where we live and work." Providing financial support to non-profit organizations within its service territories is just one way AEP works toward this goal.

• Employee volunteers— Employees throughout the AEP System coordinate numerous company projects to benefit a number of non-profit organizations. Hundreds of employees also share their talents individually as volunteers in our communities.
• Economic development — AEP sponsors special programs to encourage economic development within its traditional service territory.
• Matching gifts — Employee contributions to accredited colleges and universities for scholastic programs may be matched by the company through a separate employee educational matching contributions program. See eligibility information (PDF)
• In-kind donations — AEP makes contributions of non-cash items such as real estate, furniture, equipment and the services of employees on short-term loan to organizations, using similar criteria as cash donations.

Eligibility For Charitable Contributions

To be eligible for corporate contributions, organizations must be tax exempt under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and benefit communities within AEP's service territory in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma or communities with major AEP facilities.

Organizations receiving contributions must be in compliance with the Equal Employment Opportunities Act and other federal, state and local laws and regulations.

Corporate Giving Guidelines

Contributions are made principally in the areas of education, the environment and human services, such as hunger, housing, health, and safety.

• Priority is based on the perceived overall benefit to communities in the company's service area.
• In the area of education, preference is given to grades pre-K through 12 in the fields of science, technology and math.
• Multi-year commitments to capital campaigns generally do not exceed five years.
• AEP and its employees provide strong support to many annual United Way campaigns within our service territory; therefore, additional support to United Way agencies is limited.

Organizations and Activities Not Eligible

• Religious, fraternal, service and veteran organizations except for non-sectarian social service activities available to the broader community, such as a senior center or a church-owned housing project.
• Those with a purpose that is solely athletic in nature, not connected to a school or youth group with other developmental goals.
• Individuals.

Proposals

Requests for contributions can be submitted in writing or electronically. Each request should include:

• Evidence of tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Amount of funds requested.
• Description of intended use of requested funds, who will benefit and how they will benefit.
• Overall budget of related program.
• Description of how the organization will measure results and report outcome of the use of funds being requested.

Submitting Requests

Written requests for local or statewide projects may be submitted to the appropriate AEP operating unit office:

AEP Ohio	attn: Beth Kaltenbach One Riverside Plaza Columbus, OH 43215
AEP Texas	539 N. Carancahua 17th Floor Corpus Christi, TX 78478
Appalachian Power	P. O. Box 1986 Charleston, WV 25327-1986
Indiana Michigan Power	110 East Wayne St. Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Kentucky Power	101A Enterprise Drive PO Box 5190 Frankfort, KY 40602
PSO	212 East 6th St. Tulsa, OK 74119
SWEPCO	428 Travis St. Shreveport, LA 71101

Requests for multi-state or national projects should be limited to a 250-word synopsis and submitted via email (no attachments, please) to Educate@AEP.com. Based on the synopsis, we may ask you to submit a full, on-line proposal for consideration.