Akron Community Foundation funds four carefully chosen and equally vital issues through our quarterly competitive grantmaking program. Community Fund grants do more than simply meet residents' immediate needs; they address the root cause of a problem to create lasting and systemic change for future generations.
Each quarter, our board requests applications to meet the community's most pressing needs in Arts & Culture, Civic Affairs, Health & Human Services, and Education. Then we study, vet and award grants to the nonprofits best equipped to tackle these important issues in Summit County. Funding for these key areas comes from board discretionary and field-of-interest funds, as well as donors who give specifically to the Community Fund.
Learn more about what we fund and how to apply.
Akron Community Foundation requests that all first-time grant applicants please complete the Tell Us About Your Program form before starting your grant application. If you have any questions about the form or the grant application process, you can contact Mariana Silva, senior community investment officer.
Applications accepted March 1 - April 1
A vibrant cultural landscape enriches our community's quality of life. The artistic and cultural offerings Akron Community Foundation supports appeal to diverse audiences throughout Summit County. Examples include performing and visual arts programs, historical societies and museums, and multimedia storytelling. To learn more, contact Brian Reitz or Mariana Silva.
See our most recent Arts & Culture grants or view the application questions.
Applications accepted June 1 - July 1
We believe our community's well-being depends on citizen involvement. We make grants to strengthen our neighborhoods, infrastructure and economy through programs that engage residents, improve our environment, promote recreation, and attract people and businesses to our region. To learn more, contact Brian Reitz or Mariana Silva.
See our most recent Civic Affairs grants or view the application questions.
Applications accepted Sept. 1 - Oct. 1
In caring for the neediest among us, we improve life for us all. We invest in a spectrum of services for Summit County's most vulnerable residents, from basic needs like food, shelter and medical treatment to programs designed to increase self-sufficiency and wellness. To learn more, contact Brian Reitz or Mariana Silva.
See our most recent Health & Human Services grants or view the application questions.
Applications accepted Nov. 15 - Dec. 15
Children's success in school and in life hinges profoundly on their capacity to learn. That's why Akron Community Foundation approaches learning from a holistic perspective. Preference for our education grants is given to programs that align with the Cradle to Career continuum, which focuses on key transition points throughout a student's entire education. In addition, we focus a portion of our funding specifically on early learning programs that prepare children from birth to age 5 to succeed. To learn more, contact Brian Reitz or Mariana Silva.
See our most recent Education grants or view the application questions.
We also offer other specialized funding opportunities beyond our four traditional grant cycles, including:
Applications accepted May 1 - June 1
Every other year, the community foundation offers capital grants to organizations that need funding to renovate or repair their facilities, or to purchase essential equipment. These grants range from $2,500 to $25,000 and are available to current recipients of the foundation's competitive grant cycles, as well as to organizations with agency endowment funds at Akron Community Foundation. It is strongly recommended that at least 50% of the funds needed for the project are secured before applying for a capital grant. Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with capital projects that benefit Summit County residents are qualified to apply.
Awards for the next round of capital grants will be announced in late September 2026. To learn more, contact Brian Reitz or Mariana Silva or view the grant information sheet.
Application deadline varies, with the next cycle projected to open in 2027
Our Proactive Grantmaking process was created to provide additional support to nonprofit partners in key areas of need, focusing on a forward-looking approach that tackles pressing issues before they become critical crises. Through community needs assessments and listening sessions, the foundation has identified housing, mental health and public safety as its current areas of focus for proactive grantmaking. Since 2019, Akron Community Foundation has invested nearly $1.1 million in proactive grants. For more information, contact Brian Reitz or Mariana Silva.
Application deadline varies
The Summit County Opioid Healing Fund provides grants of up to $25,000 to nonprofits supporting Summit County residents directly impacted by the opioid epidemic. This fund was developed to recognize and aid the work of the organizations tirelessly working with limited resources and institutional support to respond, rebuild and recover from the opioid epidemic. Since 2021, Akron Community Foundation has awarded $1.6 million in Summit County Opioid Settlement Funds. For more information, contact Brian Reitz.
Applications accepted Jan. 1 - Feb. 1
The Akron Community Cemetery Preservation Fund was established in 2015 for the restoration of historic gravesites and the beautification of public cemeteries in Coventry Township and/or Ward 7 of the City of Akron that offer free burials to veterans of the U.S. military. The grant application is available online, but applicants will need an access code before they can apply. If you meet the requirements listed above, please contact Kim Nott for the code and the link to apply online.
In addition to our Community Fund grants, Akron Community Foundation offers grant opportunities in several specific interest and geographic areas:
Applications accepted Sept. 1 - Oct. 1
The mission of Bath Community Fund is to strengthen the Bath community for current and future generations by providing leadership, fostering collaboration, and creating a legacy of charitable giving. It supports programs that preserve the township's historical and environmental legacy, enhance the local arts and culture landscape, serve youth through education and recreation, and meet residents' social service needs. To learn more, contact Brian Reitz or view the application questions and FAQs.
Applications accepted Nov. 15 - Dec. 15
The mission of the Gay Community Endowment Fund is to support the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community by providing grants and scholarships that advance the right to live safely, openly and authentically. Areas of focus include programs that create safer environments for LGBTQ+ youth, combat phobias of the LGBTQ+ community, and support mental health and suicide prevention programs for LGBTQ+ people, among other issues. To learn more, contact Kim Nott or view the impact grant application questions or micro grant application questions and FAQs.
The Green Community Fund is a permanent endowment dedicated to strengthening the City of Green by supporting meaningful civic and community initiatives. The fund is committed to serving as a catalyst for needed projects in the Green community, funding nonprofit organizations that serve local residents, and championing philanthropy throughout the community. It supports programs that enhance the cultural, educational, health and civic well-being of the Green community. To learn more, contact Kim Nott or view the application questions and FAQs.
Applications accepted Aug. 1 - Sept. 1
A partnership of Akron Community Foundation and the Akron Beacon Journal, the Millennium Fund for Children supports arts, civic, education, and health and human services programs for children throughout Summit, Medina, Portage, Stark and Wayne counties. It makes grants where even a small amount can make a big difference. Qualified nonprofits may apply for grants of up to $2,000. To learn more, contact Chris Miller or view the application questions and FAQs.
Applications accepted Nov. 15 - Dec. 15
The Vernon L. Odom Fund makes small grants to innovative programs that promote ethnic and racial harmony in Greater Akron and improve the quality of life within its minority communities. The fund is named for former Akron Urban League President Vernon L. Odom Sr. To learn more, contact Kim Nott or view the application questions and FAQs.
Applications accepted Jan. 1 - Feb. 1
The Parent Coalition Heritage Fund for Adults with Special Needs was established in 2011 to educate residential providers who care for adults with developmental disabilities to help improve their quality of life. Qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations can apply. To learn more, contact Kim Nott or view the application questions and FAQs.
Applications accepted Aug. 15 - Sept. 15
The Rosalie and Cecil Smith Fund was established in 2007 by Cecil Smith in honor of his wife, Rosalie, to help reduce Summit County's feral cat population and to spay and neuter cats and dogs living in low-income households. The fund accepts requests from applicants with experience in, or a firm understanding of, feral animal spay and neuter methods. Local organizations may be affiliated with regional or national organizations, but their programs must be executed in Summit County. To learn more, contact Kim Nott or view the application questions and FAQs.
Applications accepted Oct. 1 - Nov. 1
The Women's Endowment Fund encourages the advancement of Summit County women and girls and their growth as philanthropists. Its current funding priorities are health and wellness, safety from violence, and economic empowerment for local women and girls. To learn more, contact Kim Nott or view the application questions and FAQs.