Akron Community Foundation selects longtime team member John F. Garofalo as its next President & Chief Executive Officer
The Board of Directors of Akron Community Foundation has named John F. Garofalo as the foundation's next president and chief executive officer, effective July 7, 2025.
Garofalo brings nearly four decades of philanthropic leadership to the role, including the past 14 years at Akron Community Foundation, where he has served as vice president of community investment. In this role, he has overseen the distribution of more than $125 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and community initiatives across Greater Akron and beyond.
Garofalo has had a distinguished philanthropic career, serving in various leadership and development roles at University Hospitals, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, United Way of Greater Cleveland, United Way of Greater Stark County, and the American Red Cross. He also served as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina, and Stark Counties.
"After a thorough and thoughtful search process, the board is confident that John Garofalo is the right leader to guide us into the future and build on the incredible reputation and culture of the foundation," said Jim Pickard, chair of both the ACF board and the CEO search committee. "John's deep commitment to our mission, coupled with his long-standing relationships in the community and extensive philanthropic experience, made him a clear and compelling choice."
"This community holds a special place in my heart, and the work we do at Akron Community Foundation has been among the most meaningful of my career," said Garofalo. "I am honored and excited to step into this role and continue advancing our vision of serving as our community's champion and generator of enduring philanthropy."
Garofalo will succeed John T. Petures Jr., who is retiring effective July 7, 2025, following 17 years of service to the organization. Under Petures' leadership, the foundation experienced significant growth, tripling both its charitable assets and funds under management, and more than doubling its total grantmaking to over $250 million.
For more information about Akron Community Foundation, its initiatives and leadership, visit akroncf.org.
About Akron Community Foundation 
For 70 years, Akron Community Foundation has been our community's champion and generator of enduring philanthropy. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of $305 million with a growing family of more than 900 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation's funds have awarded nearly $259 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit akroncf.org.