Community Response Fund for Nonprofits accepting grant applications again

Grants provided for diversity, equity and inclusion focused programs and initiatives 

The Community Response Fund for Nonprofits at Akron Community Foundation is once again accepting grant applications. Initially established in March 2020 to provide flexible resources to area nonprofits facing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fund has since expanded to help direct changes that encourage greater community inclusion and equity for all in the region. 

The fund will be accepting inclusion-focused grant applications through April 1, 2021. Grants will be awarded up to $5,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations in Summit and Medina counties. Examples of potential grants include (but are not limited to): storytelling initiatives to increase understanding of marginalized experiences, like the grant awarded to the Akron Civic Theatre for "Say it Loud," a production which explored attitudes about race and equality in our community; systems change approaches to address racial inequities; racial healing activities; or practical solutions to race-related challenges, such as the grant to the Akron Urban League to educate communities of color on their rights to vote. 

The fund will not be awarding grants for COVID-19-related expenses and programs at this time. 

To date, the fund has distributed nearly $550,000 in grants to local nonprofits. For more information about the Community Response Fund for Nonprofits or to see the full list of grants it has distributed since its establishment in March 2020, visit www.akroncf.org/communityresponsefundinfo.