Green Community Fund seeks proposals for inaugural grantmaking cycle
The Green Community Fund of Akron Community Foundation is accepting its first round of grant proposals from nonprofit organizations that enrich the Green community and improve residents' quality of life.
Established during the city's 30th anniversary year in 2022, the Green Community Fund supports programs that enhance the cultural, educational, health and civic well-being of the Green community. Nonprofits serving Green expressed enthusiasm for the Green Community Fund, prompting the advisory board to accelerate its planned grantmaking cycle.
A total of $15,000 will be available during this grant cycle, thanks to generous donations from the Evans family/Jeff Evans Insurance Agency, the Hollis family, the Shultz family, and the Read family.
Qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations may apply for a grant of up to $3,000 until online applications close on Jan. 20. A link to the application is available at akroncf.org/applyGCF.
A committee of Green Community Fund Advisory Board members, donors and community leaders will review the requests and make determinations. The inaugural grants committee is co-chaired by Green Community Fund board members Jaclyn Beckwith and Lori Lautenschlager. The committee also includes Green Community Fund Co-Chairs Barry Hollis and Kelli Shultz, Brandon Waithe, and several Green High School students. Grant decisions will be announced in March.
Lautenschlager, the retired executive director of the Green Family YMCA, shared her excitement about the future of the Green Community Fund, saying, "This first round of funding wouldn't be possible without the generosity of our donors. Gifts of any amount make a difference to an endowment fund, and we are excited to continue supporting the nonprofits serving Green for generations to come."
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 Green Community Fund
Established during the city's 30th anniversary year in 2022, the Green Community Fund is a permanent endowment dedicated to strengthening the city 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. Since its inception, the fund has grown to approximately $330,000. For more information, or to contribute to the Green Community Fund, visit greencommunityfund.org.
About Akron Community Foundation
For 69 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 more than $305 million with a growing family of nearly 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 $254 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.