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Women’s Endowment Fund
Grant History

Since its founding, the Women’s Endowment Fund has invested more than $1.1 million into local causes that inspire, empower and educate women and girls throughout Akron and all of Summit County.

2018 WEF Grants

2018 Grants

In 2018, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $178,000 to 22 local nonprofit organizations:

Two women
Impact grants totaling $50,000 were awarded to programs that help reduce Summit County’s infant mortality rate by addressing key issues identified during the fund’s 2017 Forum on Women and Girls.
  • ACCESS, to support arts-based mental health programs for homeless youth, $10,000
  • Battered Women’s Shelter, to support protective shelter services for victims of domestic violence and their children, $10,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, for the SMART Girls program, which equips girls to make healthy lifestyle choices and builds their self-esteem, $5,000
  • Building for Tomorrow, to support the Reach Opportunity Center, which helps families in the Summit Lake neighborhood rise above poverty by providing job readiness programs for women and preparing young children for kindergarten, $10,000
  • Cleveland Clinic Akron General, to provide neighborhood-based perinatal education to women at risk of premature birth, with a focus on progesterone treatment, smoking cessation and safe sleep practices, $20,180
  • Community Legal Aid Services, to reduce infant mortality rates in West Akron by providing critical legal services to women who are facing unsafe housing conditions, loss of public assistance, and institutional racism, $14,820
  • DAWN: Developing Alternatives for Women in New Communities, to support a leadership training program for refugee women living in Summit County, $8,300
  • Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support an after-school leadership and empowerment program for girls in Akron Public Schools, $5,000
  • H.M. Life Opportunity Services, to help previously homeless, single mothers overcome addiction through secure housing, recovery-based support groups and parenting education, $20,000
  • Info Line, to increase awareness of resources that support healthy babies through 2-1-1, and to develop a screening protocol for families at risk of infant mortality, $5,000
  • I Promise School, Akron Public Schools, to empower girls to pursue careers in STEM fields through after-school programs that foster innovation and creativity, $5,000
  • Kent State University Foundation, for the SUN Shine program, which teaches African-American girls healthy strategies for coping with stress and anxiety, $10,000
  • OPEN M, to help women in poverty become economically self-sufficient through a financial literacy and job mentoring program, $5,000
  • Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to teach girls in Akron-area high schools about healthy relationships, birth control and sexually transmitted infections using an evidence-based, LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, $10,000
  • RAHAB Ministries, to provide safe housing and trauma counseling for victims of sex trafficking, $5,000
  • Rape Crisis Center, to prevent dating and sexual violence by educating middle and high school students about bullying, consent and healthy relationships, $8,000
  • South Street Ministries, to support Girls Studio, an arts-based mentoring program for teenage girls in the Summit Lake neighborhood, $3,000
  • Stewart’s Caring Place, to provide wigs and beauty services for women on a cancer journey, $1,700
  • Students With A Goal, for Girls Circle, a discussion group for adolescent girls in the Summit Lake neighborhood that promotes healthy lifestyle choices, pregnancy prevention, entrepreneurship and personal accountability, $2,000
  • Summit County Public Health, to support infant mortality education and awareness in high-risk areas of Summit County, $10,000
  • Victim Assistance Program, to provide 24-hour crisis response services for victims of crime and trauma in Summit County, $5,000
  • Women's Network, to support research on gender equity in leadership, $5,000

2017 WEF Grants

2017 Grants

In 2017, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $114,460 to 19 local nonprofit organizations:

Two women
A grant to OPEN M helped women in poverty become economically self-sufficient through a financial literacy and job mentoring program.
  • ACCESS Inc., to meet the emergency needs of homeless women and children, including safe shelter, counseling, addiction support and job readiness training, $10,000
  • Asian Services in Action Inc., to provide culturally sensitive support groups and domestic violence education to Hmong women in Akron, $3,000
  • Battered Women’s Shelter, to provide protective shelter, food, clothing and counseling for victims of domestic violence, $10,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve Inc., to provide summer program scholarships for at-risk girls in Summit County, $4,960 
  • Building for Tomorrow, to support the Reach Opportunity Center, which helps families in the Summit Lake neighborhood rise above poverty by providing job readiness programs for women and preparing young children for kindergarten, $5,000
  • Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio, to support a running-based program for girls in Summit County that combines physical activity with discussions about self-confidence, bullying and healthy relationships, $5,000
  • Greenleaf Family Center, to support a perinatal program for African-American women in Summit County that reduces infant mortality through early prenatal care and maternal education, $10,000
  • International Institute of Akron, to support a “Mommy and Me” program for Afghan refugee women that will increase their language and self-sufficiency skills while preparing their young children for kindergarten, $9,500
  • Mustard Seed Development Center, for a financial counseling program that helps Summit County women secure stable housing, improve their credit, and develop a budget, $8,000
  • Not Wasted (Truly Reaching You), for a job skills training program for women in Summit County who have been incarcerated or are recovering from addiction, $5,000
  • OhioGuidestone, for a maternal depression program that provides in-home mental health assessments and support services for pregnant women and new mothers in Summit County, $5,000
  • OPEN M, to help women in poverty become economically self-sufficient through a financial literacy and job mentoring program, $5,000
  • Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to teach girls in Akron-area high schools about healthy relationships, birth control and sexually transmitted infections using an evidence-based, LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, $7,500
  • Rape Crisis Center, to prevent dating and sexual violence by educating middle and high school students about bullying, consent and healthy relationships, $8,000
  • Shelter Care Inc., to purchase baby supplies for homeless teenage mothers living at the pregnancy shelter, $2,500
  • South Street Ministries, to support an arts-based mentoring program for teenage girls in the Summit Lake neighborhood that builds character and self-esteem, $4,000
  • Students With A Goal, for Girls Circle, a discussion group for adolescent girls in the Summit Lake neighborhood that promotes healthy lifestyle choices, pregnancy prevention, entrepreneurship and personal accountability, $2,000
  • Victim Assistance Program Inc., to provide 24-hour crisis response services for victims of crime and trauma in Summit County, $5,000
  • Women’s Network Inc., to create a leadership and management training curriculum for female professionals, $5,000

2016 WEF Grants

2016 Grants

In 2016, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $98,500 to 15 local nonprofit organizations:

Girls in the SUN program
A grant to the Kent State University Foundation trained local nonprofits to implement the S.U.N. program, which teaches African-American girls healthy strategies for coping with stress.
  • ACCESS Inc., to renovate and repair the agency’s emergency shelter for homeless women and children, $17,500
  • Akron Children’s Hospital, to reduce the number of sleep-related infant deaths in Summit County by providing portable cribs and safe sleeping educational materials to low-income mothers and caregivers, $2,500
  • Battered Women’s Shelter, to provide protective shelter, food, clothing and counseling for victims of domestic violence, $8,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve Inc., to provide summer program scholarships for at-risk girls in Summit County, $4,000 
  • Building for Tomorrow, to support the Reach Opportunity Center, which offers education, training, and family support for single mothers and at-risk residents in the Summit Lake neighborhood, $5,000
  • Greenleaf Family Center, for a school-based support group for teen mothers that offers parenting education and peer support, $7,500
  • Kent State University Foundation, to train Akron-area nonprofit organizations to implement the Sisters United Now (S.U.N.) program, which teaches African-American girls healthy strategies for coping with stress and anxiety, $5,000
  • Mustard Seed Development Center, for a financial counseling program that helps Summit County women secure stable housing, improve their credit, and develop a budget, $8,000
  • OPEN M, to help women in poverty become economically self-sufficient through a financial literacy and job mentoring program, $5,000
  • Rape Crisis Center, for the Tina Project, which helps prevent teen dating violence by educating middle and high school students about healthy relationships, $6,000
  • Shelter Care Inc., to teach girls living at the crisis shelter about healthy self-care practices, including personal hygiene, stress management, sexual health and nutrition, $6,000
  • Stewart’s Caring Place, to provide wigs and beauty services for women with cancer to help improve their self-confidence and mental health, $1,500
  • Summa Health System, to reduce the rate of African-American infant deaths in West Akron by helping pregnant women in at-risk neighborhoods get the prenatal care and education they need, $10,000
  • Victim Assistance Program Inc., to provide 24-hour crisis response services for victims of crime and trauma in Summit County, $7,500
  • Women’s Network Inc., for leadership training and mentoring programs for female professionals, $5,000

  • 2015 WEF Grants

    2015 Grants

    In 2015, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $85,000 to 12 local nonprofit organizations:

    Student with stethoscope
    A grant to the American Red Cross of Summit & Portage Counties supported career training for young women.
    • American Red Cross of Summit & Portage Counties, for nursing assistant career training to help low-income and minority women gain employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency, $7,500
    • Asian Services in Action Inc., to provide culturally sensitive support groups and domestic violence education to Hmong women in Akron, $3,000 
    • Battered Women’s Shelter, to renovate a residential suite for victims of domestic violence at the agency’s new campus, $10,000
    • Child Guidance & Family Solutions Inc., for maternal depression support groups for new moms in Summit County, $5,500 
    • Girls on the Run of Greater Summit, Jewish Community Center of Akron, to purchase an updated curriculum for this nationally acclaimed program, which mentors girls in high-poverty neighborhoods through a combination of fitness training and discussions about personal values, respect and self-worth, $10,000
    • Greenleaf Family Center, for a school-based support group for teen moms that offers parenting education and peer support, $5,500
    • H.M. Life Opportunity Services, to support the Mobile Moms program, which provides used cars to women transitioning out of homelessness, $12,500
    • Kent State University Foundation, for the S.U.N. 2.0 program, which teaches African-American girls healthy strategies for coping with stress and anxiety, $10,000
    • Legacy III Inc., to provide transitional housing and case management for homeless women recovering from addiction, $5,000
    • Rape Crisis Center, for the Tina Project, which helps prevent teen dating violence by educating middle and high school students about healthy relationships, $6,000
    • Summa Health System, for a recovery support group for opiate-addicted pregnant women that empowers them to become healthy, productive mothers, $7,500
    • Women’s Network Inc., for leadership training and mentoring programs for female professionals, $2,500

    2014 WEF Grants

    2014 Grants

    In 2014, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $72,050 to 11 local nonprofit organizations:

    Women talking and smiling at each other
    A grant to Bridges Summit County helped women living in transitional housing at ACCESS and other local shelters move out of poverty.
    • ACCESS Inc., to provide reliable used cars to women transitioning out of homelessness so they can find employment and become economically self-sufficient, $10,000
    • Asian Services in Action Inc., to provide culturally sensitive support groups and domestic violence education to Hmong women in Akron, $5,000 
    • Bridges Out of Poverty Summit County Collaborative, United Way of Summit County, to provide the Getting Ahead program to women in transitional housing at ACCESS, Legacy III, Harvest Home and Freedom House for Women, $10,000
    • Building for Tomorrow, to raise awareness about maternal depression, and to provide education and support to mothers in Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority neighborhoods, $10,000
    • Collaborative Against Human Trafficking of Summit County, for the Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution (SOAP) Project, which distributes bars of soap with the National Human Trafficking Hotline phone number to high-risk motels in Summit County and educates cleaning staff about reporting suspicious behavior, $3,550
    • Community Legal Aid Services Inc., for the HEAL Program at Summa Women’s Health Center, which helps patients address non-medical barriers to health, including economic instability, insecure housing, threats to physical safety, and poor access to education, $10,000
    • gHealth Solutions, to mentor female entrepreneurs and help them launch their own businesses in the technology, retail and service industries, $2,500
    • Girls on the Run of Greater Summit, Jewish Community Center of Akron, to mentor girls in high-poverty neighborhoods through a program that combines fitness training with discussions about personal values, respect and self-worth, $5,000
    • Legacy III Inc., to provide transitional housing and case management for homeless women recovering from addiction, $6,000
    • Ruling Our eXperiences Inc., for an empowerment program at Green Middle School that helps girls develop their self-worth and offers a supportive environment to address issues of bullying, sexual violence, peer pressure and body image, $5,000
    • Shelter Care Inc., for the Wonder Women program, which helps at-risk girls at the Safe Landing Youth Shelter learn healthy behaviors and positive decision-making skills, $5,000

    2013 WEF Grants

    2013 Grants

    In 2013, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $95,000 to 11 local nonprofit organizations:

    Young girls running
    Girls on the Run combines physical fitness with programming that improves girls' self-esteem.
    • Building for Tomorrow, to raise awareness about maternal depression, and to provide education and support to mothers in Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority neighborhoods, $10,000
    • Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron, to support Respect, a teen dating violence and sexual assault prevention program, $5,000
    • Community Legal Aid Services Inc., for the HEAL Program at Summa Women’s Health Center, which helps patients address non-medical barriers to health, including economic instability, insecure housing, threats to physical safety, and poor access to education, $10,000
    • Girls on the Run of Greater Summit, Jewish Community Center of Akron, to mentor girls in high-poverty neighborhoods through a program that combines fitness training with discussions about personal values, respect and self-worth, $5,000
    • H.M. Life Opportunity Services, to support the Mobile Moms program, which provides used cars to women transitioning out of homelessness, $20,000
    • Kent State University Foundation, for Sisters United Now, which teaches African-American girls in the Project GRAD Akron program healthy coping strategies for dealing with stress and anxiety, $13,900
    • Mental Health America of Summit County Inc., for mental health and stress management workshops for adolescent girls living in AMHA neighborhoods, $6,000
    • Mustard Seed Development Center, for a financial counseling and case management program that helps Summit County women secure stable housing, rebuild their credit and get out of debt, $5,100
    • Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry, for Diamond Ladies, a mentoring program for adolescent girls that focuses on career exploration, community service and healthy behaviors, $4,000
    • Project GRAD Akron, for a college readiness summer program at Buchtel High School that teaches girls about healthy relationships, positive decision-making, nutrition and goal setting, $6,000
    • Victim Assistance Program, to prevent recurring violence against women by helping victims navigate the judicial system and file protection orders, $10,000

    2012 WEF Grants

    2012 Grants

    In 2012, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $52,000 to nine local nonprofit organizations:

    Group of smiling young women
    A grant to OPEN M supported the Diamond Ladies mentoring program.
    • Battered Women’s Shelter, for the Tina Project, which works to prevent teen dating violence by educating both boys and girls in schools and the juvenile court system, $5,000
    • Community Legal Aid Services Inc., for the HEAL Program at Summa Women’s Health Center, which helps patients address non-medical barriers to health, including economic instability, insecure housing, threats to physical safety, and poor access to education, $8,000
    • Greenleaf Family Center, to teach parenting and life skills to young mothers, $2,000
    • International Institute of Akron Inc., to provide direct health education to refugee women and to translate online medical information for their use, $5,000
    • Legacy III Inc., to provide transitional housing and case management for homeless women recovering from addiction, $7,500
    • Mental Health America of Summit County Inc., for mental health and stress management workshops for adolescent girls living in AMHA housing, $5,000
    • Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry, for Diamond Ladies, a mentoring program for adolescent girls that focuses on career exploration, goal setting, community service and healthy behaviors, $4,000
    • Project RISE, Akron Public Schools, for a therapeutic arts-based support group for women and their children living at the Battered Women’s Shelter, $5,500
    • Victim Assistance Program, for the Child Victim Advocate program, which gives abused children and their families an advocate to guide them through the forensic examination and court process, $10,000

    2011 WEF Grants

    2011 Grants

    In 2011, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $51,500 to six local nonprofit organizations:

    Mother kissing baby
    A grant to Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority supported its maternal depression program.
    • Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, to raise awareness among AMHA residents about maternal depression, and to provide early diagnoses and support to mothers living with it, $10,000
    • Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron, to support Respect, a dating violence and sexual assault prevention program for teens, $3,000
    • H.M. Life Opportunity Services, to support the Mobile Moms program, which provides used cars to women transitioning out of homelessness, $14,000
    • Jewish Community Center of Akron, for Girls on the Run, a program for 8- to 12-year-old girls that combines a 5K training regimen with lessons to strengthen their social, emotional, physical and mental health, $2,000
    • Mustard Seed Development Center, for Pathway Out of Poverty, a financial counseling and case management program that helps Summit County women and girls increase their financial stability and decrease their dependence on government subsidies, $7,500
    • Victim Assistance Program Inc., for the Child Victim Advocate program, which gives abused children and their families an advocate to guide them through the forensic examination and court process, $15,000

    2010 WEF Grants

    2010 Grants

    In 2010, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $64,500 to seven local nonprofit organizations:

    Two women reviewing a document
    A grant to Mustard Seed Development Center supported a financial counseling program for women.

    2009 WEF Grants

    2009 Grants

    In 2009, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $48,200 to five local nonprofit organizations:

    Group of teenagers in an auditorium
    A grant to Akron Children's Hospital supported a violence prevention program for teens.

    2008 WEF Grants

    2008 Grants

    In 2008, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $42,824 to four local nonprofit organizations:

    Group of immigrant women smiling
    A grant to the International Institute of Akron supported a financial literacy program for refugee women.

    2007 WEF Grants

    2007 Grants

    In 2007, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $40,250 to seven local nonprofit organizations:

    2006 WEF Grants

    2006 Grants

    In 2006, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $36,066 to eight local nonprofit organizations:

    2005 WEF Grants

    2005 Grants

    In 2005, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $39,593 to seven local nonprofit organizations:

    2004 WEF Grants

    2004 Grants

    In 2004, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $34,444 to four local nonprofit organizations:

    2003 WEF Grants

    2003 Grants

    In 2003, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $17,426 to three local nonprofit organizations:

    • Girls sitting around a table working on projects
      A grant to Shelter Care purchased personal development workbooks for girls living at the shelter.
    • Project RISE, Akron Public Schools, to support the Living Legacy Project, a summer arts-based oral history project for girls residing at the Safe Landing shelter, $6,110 
    • Shelter Care Inc., to purchase youth development workbooks for girls at the Safe Landing shelter, $3,016 
    • The University of Akron, to support a study on homeless teenage girls that examines the key factors affecting their potential for success in school, $8,300

    2002 WEF Grants

    2002 Grants

    In 2002, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $27,500 to four local nonprofit organizations:

    • Group of women listening to a presentation
      A grant to Community Financial Education provided free personal finance seminars for local women.
    • Caring Communities of Summit County, for women’s financial literacy programs, $7,000 
    • Community Financial Education, for a free personal finance seminar series for women, $5,000
    • Greenleaf Family Center, for “Having Fun with Money,” a mother-daughter financial literacy program, $9,500
    • Western Reserve Girl Scout Council, for the Money Smarts program, which teaches budgeting and money management skills to girls, $6,000

    2001 WEF Grants

    2001 Grants

    In 2001, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $22,000 to three local nonprofit organizations:

    • Young girls with their arms around one another
      A grant to the Western Reserve Girl Scout Council supported its Teen Drop-In Center.
    • Caring Communities of Summit County, for women’s financial literacy programs, $8,500 
    • Greenleaf Family Center, for “Having Fun with Money,” a mother-daughter financial literacy program, $9,500
    • Western Reserve Girl Scout Council, for the Teen Drop-In Center, $4,000

    2000 WEF Grants

    2000 Grants

    In 2000, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $14,699 to five local nonprofit organizations:

    • Group of women sitting around a table and talking
      A grant to the Junior League of Akron supported a community forum on relationship aggression.
    • Junior League of Akron, for a forum on relationship aggression, $5,000 
    • University of Akron, for a children's career day, $2,400
    • Western Reserve Girl Scout Council, for the Teen Drop-In Center, $3,000
    • Women's Network Inc., for the production of "Mother Wove the Morning," $2,500
    • YWCA of Summit County, for the Youth Adolescent Development Program at Goodyear and Roswell Kent middle schools, $3,000

    1999 WEF Grants

    1999 Grants

    In 1999, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $7,500 to three local nonprofit organizations:

    • Two students holding certificates at school
      A grant to Black Women on the Move helped expand the Saturday enrichment program to girls at Roswell Kent and Goodyear middle schools.
    • Black Women on the Move, for expansion of the Phenomenal Young Women's Saturday enrichment program to Roswell Kent and Goodyear middle schools, $2,500 
    • Western Reserve Girl Scout Council, for the Teen Drop-In Center, $2,500
    • YWCA of Summit County, for the Y-Teens Program expansion for girls at Goodyear and Roswell Kent middle schools, $3,000

    1997 WEF Grants

    1997 Grants

    In 1997, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $500 to one local nonprofit organization:

    • Woman at stove
      A grant to NAMI Summit County provided basic household items to women transitioning to independent housing.
    • NAMI Summit County, to purchase housewarming items for women with mental illness who are transitioning into independent housing, $500 

    1996 WEF Grants

    1996 Grants

    In 1996, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $3,500 to two local nonprofit organizations:

    • Exterior of Akron Art Museum building
      A grant to the Akron Art Museum funded a preview reception for the "History of Women Photographers" exhibit..
    • Akron Art Museum, for a "History of Women Photographers" preview reception, $1,000 
    • YWCA of Summit County, for the Women's Personal Enrichment Program, $2,500

    1995 WEF Grants

    1995 Grants

    In 1995, the Women’s Endowment Fund awarded its first grant of $2,500 to one local nonprofit organization:

    • YWCA logo 
    • YWCA of Summit County, for the Women's Personal Enrichment Program, $2,500