2022 Recipients

Scripps family doubles the number of grant recipients for 2022
The efforts of six animal-services nonprofits boosted by nearly $1.5 million in grants 

The Scripps Family Impact Fund (SFIF) launched in 2019 when members of the fourth and fifth generations of the Edward W. Scripps media family contributed $265,000 to three children’s services organizations. Just three years later, following consideration of the finalists’ applications at this year’s annual Scripps Family Meeting, the SFIF board announced that the Fund will distribute more than five times that amount to the 2022 recipients. 

As a result, a half dozen nonprofits focused on a variety of animal services will receive a total of $1,409,500 in grants from Scripps family members.  

“Since the days of E. W. Scripps and his sister, Ellen Browning Scripps, this family has been steeped in a commitment to community-enriching philanthropy,” said Wes Scripps, SFIF co-chair, “and we have clearly extended that legacy with this year’s effort by the Scripps Family Impact Fund. In the few short years since our inception, we have provided nearly $5 million in funding to outstanding causes from coast to coast, and this year’s collection of remarkable grant recipients makes all of our donors proud to be part of their ongoing success.”

In response to the broad diversity of services and missions within the animal-services category, the SFIF board expanded the number of grants from three to six for the 2022 giving cycle. Recipients of gifts from the Impact Fund this year are:

• The Cincinnati Zoo’s Rhino Reserve, which is an innovative new environment that is helping save black rhinos from extinction.
• Dog Is My Copilot, which transports at-risk animals from overcrowded shelters to adoption centers in other geographic regions.
• Pollinator Partnership, which promotes the health of the endangered bee pollinators that are critical to food and ecosystems.
• Puppies Behind Bars, which trains incarcerated individuals to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and first responders.
• CARES Northwest, which, among other services, provides therapy dogs for children who have experienced abuse.

The final grant recipient is the UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center, in memory of Careen Cardin. Careen was a charter member of the SFIF board who championed animal services as a giving focus for the fund, and her mother, Edie Tomasko, founded the center in 1992.

“Our board had more calls and meetings about our grant applications this year than ever before, because all of the applications were so compelling,” said Jaime Scripps, SFIF co-chair. “It’s a testament to the strength of our finalist charities that they were able to stand apart from a field with so many outstanding applications. The Scripps family is proud to support such a diverse group of top-tier animal-services organizations.”

By design, the Impact Fund changes its focus from year to year. Children’s-services agencies were the beneficiaries the first year, followed by Covid-related efforts in year two and healthcare charities in year three. The focus of giving for the 2022-23 cycle will be announced this fall.  

“From changing the focus to Covid during the middle of our second year to expanding the field of finalists this year in response to feedback from the family, the SFIF board has shown an agility that is uncommon in the philanthropic world,” said Ray Granado Jr., the SFIF board secretary.

“Even though our organization is young, it’s quickly becoming known in nonprofit circles as a great financial partner because of the passion and commitment of our board members and the reliable generosity of our family members.”