Upcoming Events

You're invited to Akron Community Foundation's Third Annual Nonprofit Insights Conference, featuring keynote speakers Aleda Gagarin, vice president of influence for Candid, and Fred Brown, president and CEO of Forbes Funds.

A whole day of breakout sessions will offer topics ranging from board accountability and volunteer management to AI, event planning and leadership, among several other areas. Through engaging workshops, interactive sessions, and insightful keynotes, participants will gain valuable skills, strategic insights, and practical tools to navigate the challenges of the nonprofit landscape.

This free introductory course will explain what funders are looking for in nonprofits seeking grants and explore how to find potential funders. You will learn the 10 most important things you need to know about finding grants, including:

How do you identify potential funders and make the first approach?
Who funds nonprofits and what are their motivations?
What do funders really want to know about the organizations they are interested in funding?

This program is presented in cooperation with Candid and the Akron-Summit County Public Library.

Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating women as philanthropists and the collective impact we are making for women and girls as we announce this year's grant recipients. This year's theme, Strength in Action, reflects the leadership and momentum behind this work.

Sponsors and VIP guests are invited to a VIP reception at 5 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for all other guests, and everyone will be seated for dinner by 6:30 p.m. The main program will begin at 6:50 p.m. During the program, 2026 Judith A. Read Tribute Award Recipient Bernett L. Williams will join journalist Debra Adams Simmons for a fireside chat exploring leadership, service, and strength in action.

All tickets include a plated dinner, a commemorative mug, and a drink ticket redeemable for one complimentary drink. We expect this event to sell out, so buy your tickets today.

Corporate and individual sponsorship opportunities for the Women's Endowment Fund's "For Women, Forever" event range from $2,500 to $25,000. Proceeds from the event support the fund's grantmaking to programs that uplift, empower, and educate women and girls throughout Summit County.

More information about the event is available at forwomenforever.org.

Are you new to proposal writing or want a quick refresher? If so, you don't want to miss one of our most popular classes! This class will provide you with an overview of how to write a standard project proposal for a foundation and will include:

The basic elements of a proposal.
How to write a standard project proposal to a foundation.
The do's and don'ts of writing and submitting a proposal.
How and when to follow up with funders after submitting a proposal.

This program is presented in cooperation with Candid and the Akron-Summit County Public Library.

Join the Gay Community Endowment Fund as they celebrate 25 years of impact in the community and invest in the next generation of LGBTQ+ students and allies. Guests will enjoy hearty hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and an inspiring program highlighting the fund's recent grant and scholarship recipients. In celebration of the fund's 25th anniversary, activist Jim Obergefell will speak and participate in a Q&A with guests.

Fund leaders will also present the 2026 Paul Daum Award to the Founders of the Gay Community Endowment Fund.

Become a sponsor today to secure your tickets early. All sponsorships include tickets to the event, complimentary drinks, and public recognition of your support. All proceeds support scholarships for LGBTQ+ students and allies. General admission and VIP tickets will go on sale this spring.