Gay Community Endowment Fund seeks grant proposals
The Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for programs that support the local LGBTQ+ community.
Nonprofits may apply for either an impact grant or a micro grant, with impact grants starting at $10,000 and micro grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Strong preference will be given to impact grant proposals that create safer environments for LGBTQ+ youth, combat phobias of the LGBTQ+ community, and support mental health and suicide prevention programs for LGBTQ+ people.
In addition to these areas of focus, micro grant proposals will also be accepted for a wider range of programs that benefit the LGBTQ+ community, including the arts, community events and nonprofit operational needs.
All grant requests are due by Dec. 15, and decisions will be announced in March. Nonprofits may be asked to schedule a site visit or interview with the committee during the grant review process.
A link to apply is available at www.akroncf.org/ApplyGCEF. Questions about the application process should be directed to John Garofalo, vice president of community investment, at 330-436-5624 or jgarofalo@akroncf.org.
About the Gay Community Endowment Fund
Founded in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community Foundation. The fund advances a lived equality for all LGBTQ+ people in Greater Akron by investing in strategic and responsive grantmaking that empowers the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Since its inception, the fund has grown to more than $2 million while reinvesting more than $630,000 into the community. Contributions of any amount are welcome and support future grantmaking. Donations may also be designated for the GCEF Scholarship Fund. Checks should be sent to the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307-2407. For more information, or to contribute, call 330-376-8522 or visit www.gaycommunityfund.org.
About Akron Community Foundation
Celebrating 66 years of building community philanthropy, Akron Community Foundation embraces and enhances the work of charitable people who make a permanent commitment to the good of the community. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of nearly $290 million with a growing family of more than 750 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 more than $198 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 www.akroncf.org.