Community Response Fund Grants

Since establishing the Community Response Fund for Nonprofits in March 2020, Akron Community Foundation has distributed nearly $675,000 to address emergency needs related to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis of systemic racism.

Nonprofits interested in applying for a grant can apply online. Individuals and businesses can also donate to the Community Response Fund for Nonprofits.

The following grants have been awarded to date:

ACCESS Inc., for COVID-19 expenses and operational support during the health crisis, $5,000
Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio, to purchase nonperishable meals and grocery cards for physically disabled youth and their families, $1,500
Akron Area YMCA, to support four local pandemic care centers to provide structured and safe environments for children of critical care employees, $5,000
Akron Art Museum, to support the Akron Art Museum's accessibility audit and evaluate institutional accessibility needs, $2,500
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, to replenish food inventory and address increased demands at food pantries as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, $15,000 (includes $10,000 from the Food Pantry Capacity Fund); to support diversity training for hunger relief efforts, $2,500
Akron Children's Hospital, to support the Akron Children's Hospital Employee Hardship Fund for assistance during the current health crisis, $5,000
Akron Civic Theatre, to support production of and outreach for Millennial Theatre Project's "Say It Loud," which explores attitudes about race and equality in our community, $5,000; to support the Akron Civic Theatre board and staff's engagement in IDEA training and assessment, $3,000
Akron Community Foundation, to attend Equity in the Center's "Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture" staff training, $3,215
Akron Inner City Soccer Club, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable, low-income immigrant/refugee families, $2,500
Akron Public Schools, to support effective, district-wide online learning through the deployment of 42 hotspot devices in weak internet areas, $5,000; to establish Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to help identify and address disparities, engage employees and raise awareness about systemic and structural inequities, $5,000
Akron Roundtable, to support a virtual forum in June, featuring public academic writer and philanthropic innovator, Rachel Cargle, $1,000
Akron Soul Train, to support the Akron Artists Relief Fund, providing micro-grants to supply basic needs for local vulnerable artists who have been affected by the current health crisis, $5,000; to support the "Reshaping the Narrative" project, featuring stories of Akron's immigrant families, $2,500
Akron-Summit County Public Library, to support safety measures needed at all library locations which opened in July, $5,000
Akron Zoological Park, to distribute health and hygiene products to Akron Public Schools students and their families, $5,000
Akron Urban League, to educate communities of color on their rights to vote and support Make Black Count, an effort to get a complete count of Black Americans in the 2020 Census, $2,500
American Red Cross of Summit, Portage and Medina Counties, to provide critical relief services for Summit and Medina County residents affected by disasters, $5,000
Antioch Baptist Church, to provide a low-cost disinfecting and sanitizing solution for local churches and other local faith-based organizations, $3,000
Apollo's Fire the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, to support the Mosaic Project in Summit County, which nurtures future musicians of color through a pipeline approach – reaching children, teens and young adults at multiple points throughout their development, $2,000
Archbishop Hoban High School, to support creating a more diverse space ensuring a safe and stronger school community, $2,500
ArtsNow, to support the arts and culture sector of Summit County, $5,000; to support the Community Circles and Statements of Equity: Arts and Culture project, which ensures mutual support, education and professional development resources, and visibility for artists of color, $5,000; for the Artist Relief Fund, which supports artists who have experienced a professional hardship due to COVID-19, $25,000
Art Sparks, to support accessible engagement in arts experiences that bring diverse populations together, $2,000
Asian Services In Action (ASIA), to provide protective equipment for employees and to convert its emergency food pantry into a carry-out model to minimize the community spread of COVID-19, $5,000
Autism Society of Greater Akron, to support individuals and families impacted by a developmental disability during COVID-19, $5,000
AxessPointe Community Health Center, to deliver virtual services to patients as a result of COVID-19, $5,000
Battered Women's Shelter of Summit & Medina Counties, to take precautions against the spread of COVID-19 within domestic violence shelters, $5,000; to facilitate a committee to review the agency and develop a strategic plan for corrective actions for any deficiencies in diversity, $3,000
Birthing Beautiful Communities, to support expectant and new parents who are COVID-19 positive or are identified as high-risk for contracting the virus, $2,000
The Blick Center, to support adults with disabilities and to help manage the mental health of clients, $3,000
Bounce Innovation Hub, to support the business program Generating Real Opportunities and Wealth (GROW), $5,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, to augment its daily meal pick-up packs to include essential items, including shampoo, toothpaste and toilet paper throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, $5,000
Broken Chains Ministry, to support emergency general operating expenses for the Summit County women's opiate recovery program, $3,500
Buchtel Community Learning Center PTA, to provide grandparents raising grandchildren and other non-traditional family arrangements with funds for groceries and essential items, $5,000
Building for Tomorrow, to provide support for Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) residents that have lost income due to COVID-19, $5,000
Business Volunteers Unlimited, to provide COVID-19 outreach and support to nonprofit organizations in Summit and Medina counties, $2,500
Caring Hands Charity, to support Greater Akron and the National Guard with cooked meals and/or groceries, $5,000
CASA Board Volunteer Association, to support recruitment of Black volunteers and stakeholders, $3,000
Catholic Charities Community Services of Medina County, to provide basic needs assistance to Medina County residents, $5,000
Catholic Charities of Summit County, to provide rent and utility assistance for residents facing financial hardship during the COVID-19 health crisis, $2,500
Cathy's House, to provide rent assistance for residents impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, $3,000
Child Guidance & Family Solutions, to support virtual telehealth services to ensure client safety throughout the current health crisis, $4,638
Cleveland Clinic Akron General, to provide COVID-19 educational resource kits to areas disproportionately affected by the health crisis, $5,000
Coleman Professional Services, for psychological first aid and mental health triage among providers throughout Summa Health System, $1,500
Community Health Center, to implement addiction recovery services using telehealth technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, $2,500
Cleveland Clinic Akron General, to provide COVID-19 educational resource kits to areas disproportionately affected by the health crisis, $5,000
Community Legal Aid Services, to provide legal services and education to help low-income clients navigate immediate challenges arising from COVID-19, $1,000; to create a diversity, equity, and inclusion plan to guide improvement and better serve its clients, $5,000
Community Support Services, to support the integration of virtual platforms for mental health counseling, $5,000
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, to support diversity, equity, and inclusion board development, $2,500
Copley United Methodist Church, to help the Copley Outreach Center purchase food and to support its general operations, $2,000
Crown Point Ecology Center, to help provide fresh, organic produce to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and other local agencies feeding those in need during the current health crisis, $4,840 (with funding support from Bath Community Fund)
Curated Storefront, to support local artists by providing assistance with rent and other basic needs, $5,000
Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, to provide cleaning supplies and building improvements to safely reopen the center in July, $1,500
Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy, to support DEI training for team members who engage directly with the public, $2000
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, to resume train rides that have been put on hold due to COVID-19, $2,500
Donovan's Kids, to support face mask production for families in Summit County, $750
Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership, to support small business recovery in downtown Cuyahoga Falls, $2,500
Dreams Academy International, to support virtual mentoring and music programming for African-American males, $5,000; to support a diversity, equity, and inclusion program for high school seniors, $2,500
East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation, to provide rent assistance for tenants who are economically affected by COVID-19, $5,000
EasterSeals of Northern Ohio, to create a virtual continuum of care for adults with disabilities in Summit County during the current health crisis, $5,000
ECDI, to support underserved small businesses impacted by COVID-19 in Greater Akron, $3,000
Embrace Clinic & Care Center, to purchase in-demand items, including baby formula and diapers, for its clients, $5,000
The Emergency Assistance Center, to provide food and personal hygiene supplies to residents in Summit County, $2,500
Faithful Servants Care Center, to provide urgent medical care to uninsured Summit County residents, $5,000
Falls Cancer Club, to support medical expenses for its registered cancer patients, $3,000
Family and Community Services, to deliver meals to high-risk populations in Summit County in response to COVID-19, $5,000
Family Promise of Summit County, to provide vouchers for extended-stay hotels for families facing homelessness, and for utility and supply expenses at the Glendora House, $5,000
Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio, to support online programming and software to deliver fatherhood education classes, $3,000
The Final Farewell Project, to assist with final expenses for financially strained individuals who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, $5,000
First Congregational Church of Hudson, to address racism through a collaborative approach between an urban and suburban high school, $2,500
The First Tee of Greater Akron, to support a safe restart of providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf, $4,570; for diversity, equity, inclusion training and implementation for staff and board, $3,000
Forever R Children, to provide essential items and food distribution for at-risk students and their families in the Kenmore and Summit Lake communities, $2,000
Freedom House for Women, to purchase cleaning supplies and update client data software, $5,000
Friends of WKSU, to provide free critical news coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, $2,500
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, to support the transition to virtual programming to continue to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, $5,000; to support the Girl Scouts Social Justice Seeker Challenge with lessons to understand privilege and representation, recognize racist language and empower girls to be actively antiracist, $2,500
Global Ties Akron, to support the transition to virtual services for community programming, $3,000; to support the Youth DEI Participatory Video (PV) project for community action and problem solving, $3,000
Grace Academy of Small Wonders, to provide Barber Community Learning Center students with gift cards to purchase food and essential items to relieve some financial burden from parents, $3,000
Greater Akron Hindu Sewa Samittee, to support Summit County outreach and alleviate the sociocultural and educational challenges faced by the Nepalese-Bhutanese community in Greater Akron, $2,000
Greenleaf Family Center, to support technology for telehealth services and to purchase personal protective equipment for clients and staff, $5,000
Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, to provide emergency mortgage assistance for its current homeowners, $5,000
Harmony House, to support Summit County homeless youth and transition-aged youth housing, $2,500
Hattie Larlham Foundation, to purchase cleaning supplies and critical safety equipment to protect health care workers and combat COVID-19, $3,000
He Brought Us Out Ministry, to expand the organization's services due to increased demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, $5,000
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, to support the Dare to Love More (DLM) Food & Resources local food pantry, $2,500
H.M. Life Opportunity Services, to provide safe housing and support services for Greater Akron's homeless population during the COVID-19 pandemic, $5,000
Humane Society of Summit County, for staff training to identify and mitigate the effects of implicit bias within the organization, $3,000
ideastream, to provide trustworthy, thoughtful, and up-to-date information to listeners across Northeast Ohio, $2,500
International Institute of Akron, to support remote education, social services, and food delivery to immigrants and refugees, $5,000
International Soap Box Derby, to support at-home STEM education programs for students of Firestone Park, Sam Salem, and Innes, $3,000
Interval Brotherhood Home, to support telehealth technology, services and personal protective equipment for its clients and staff, $5,000
JoAnna House II, to support outreach within Summit County and the organization's recovery program, $2,500
Journey Covenant Church, to purchase personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies needed during COVID-19, $2,500
Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, to support small business recovery in the Kenmore Boulevard Historic District, $4,000
Kent State University Foundation, to support emergency needs of college students from Summit and Medina counties who have been impacted by COVID-19, $3,000
Kidney Foundation of Summit County, to support Summit County kidney patients with medication, nutritional and emergency needs, $2,500
Leadership Akron, to support intentional outreach to increase the diversity of nonprofit boards across our community, $2,500
League of Women Voters Akron Area Education Fund, to support voter education and registration to Summit County's immigrant & new citizen population, $2,000
Legacy III, to restructure daily activities to support shelter-in-place orders, including the purchase of recovery-related items such as Alcoholics Anonymous speaker and workgroup CDs, books, DVDs, and arts and crafts supplies, $3,000
Limitless Ambition, to supply girls in Summit County who are impacted by trauma with "Dream Kits", duffle bags including self-guided curriculum workbooks, positive affirmation cards, personal hygiene products, and more, $2,000
Lodi Family Center, to purchase freezers for food storage and expand its distribution efforts, $3,000
Medina Cares, to support Medina County residents who have been medically diagnosed or quarantined with COVID-19, $5,000
Medina Creative Housing, to purchase personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies as well as feed its resident clients, $5,000
NeoStem Ecosystem, to support DreamSTEM, promoting visibility/accessibility of STEM professions to students of color, $4,000
North Hill Community Development Corporation, to support a DEI art installation at North Hill Heritage Courtyard on Howard Street, $2,500
Oaks Family Care Center, to provide family supportive services for Medina County residents and respond to increased needs as a result of COVID-19, $3,000
Ohio Living Rockynol, to address emergency staffing shortages as a result of COVID-19, $3,000
OPEN M, to support increased services through its free medical and dental clinics as a result of increased unemployment due to mandates related to the COVID-19 pandemic, $5,000; to provide employment services to people of color seeking employment in a post-COVID economy, $2,500
Operation Homes, to continue to provide temporary shelter to homeless individuals in Medina County during COVID-19, $4,000
The Packard Institute, to support Summit County indigenous healing and recovery center, $2,500
Pathway Caring for Children, to support Summit County foster parents and children impacted by COVID-19, $2,500
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to support reproductive health care for patients in Summit County during the COVID-19 pandemic, $5,000
Portage Path Behavioral Health, to support the implementation of telehealth for mental health and addiction treatment, $5,000
Portage Path Collaborative, to support North American First People's Day, presenting first-person accounts from members of various indigenous nations to local students, $5,000
Pregnancy Solutions & Services Inc., to support its mobile medical unit to promote access to prenatal care for African Americans, $3,000
Project: LEARN of Medina County, to restore and develop safety measures for one-to-one adult literacy, G.E.D. achievement, and English as a second language programs amid the current health crisis, $2,500
Project Learn of Summit County, to support virtual instruction and the safe return to in-person instruction for adult literacy, GED, and English to speakers of other languages (ESOL) education, $5,000
Project Ujima, to support race dialogue discussions and training, $5,000
Proyecto RAICES, to support its "Physically Distant, Socially Connected" virtual summer programing for Summit County Latinx youth, $5,000
Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio, to purchase personal protective equipment and virtual workflow technology for staff and homeowners, $5,000
Recovery Center of Medina County, to support crisis services as a result of COVID-19, $3,500
Red Oak Behavioral Health, to continue to provide mental health and addiction services for adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic, $5,000; to support development of a JEDI (justice, equity, diversity & inclusion) strategic plan for staff and board, $2,500
Revere Power Pack Program, to provide food to local families in need, $3,000 (with funding support from Bath Community Fund)
Ronald McDonald House Akron, to support staff training in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), $2,500
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, to provide rent and utility assistance for Summit County residents in need, $5,000
Safety Forces Support Center, to provide mental health counseling and support services to first responders in Summit County, $5,000, and to fund engagement activities by first responders to build positive community relationships, $3,000
Salvation Army of Summit County, to support and sustain basic needs services for citizens of Summit County, $5,000
Second Chance Village, to distribute comfort care and basic needs items for individuals facing homelessness, $2,500
Service Corps of Retired Executives Organization (SCORE), to support mentoring services for struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, $4,000
Shanti Community Farms, to support a farm-to-school and international peace garden for North Hill students and families, $2,500
The Society for Handicapped Citizens of Medina County, to support staff and individuals with developmental disabilities with additional technology, equipment and resources to ensure safety during the current health crisis, $4,000
South Akron Youth Mentorship, to adapt group mentoring to individual and virtual programs, and to distribute emergency food and supplies, $5,000; to empower disadvantaged youth of color living in poverty through mentoring, education, and work initiatives, $2,500
South Street Ministries, to adapt community-focused programs to distribute food, first aid and emergency supplies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, $5,000; to support the Embodied Cause program to facilitate training on issues of race and address racism education through authentic sharing and activism, $5,000; to support the “Across the Lake” video series and further inform Project Ujima facilitated discussion circles, $3,500
Stark State College Foundation, to support the basic needs and technology costs of post-secondary students, $3,000
Stewart's Caring Place, to support the increased demand for food, supplies and counseling for cancer patients and their families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, $3,500; to support education and outreach for those on the cancer journey, $2,000
Stow-Munroe Falls Neighborhood Improvement & Community Enrichment, to provide tangible support and emergency needs for underserved families in Stow and Munroe Falls, $5,000
Students With A Goal, to support Akron students and families with basic needs deliveries, $5,000; to develop a strategic plan to encompass racial equity within the organization and for students served, $3,000
Summa Health, to provide meals and personal protective equipment for frontline caregivers, and to develop strategies to better diagnose and treat COVID-19, $5,000; to support dialogue circles about race and unconscious bias for healthcare providers, $2,500
Summit Artspace, to provide rent assistance to local artists and artist-serving organizations, $5,000; to support the development of Summit Artspace's racial equity and inclusion plan, $3,000
Summit County Community Partnership, to provide small businesses with tools to identify emerging behavioral health needs of employees, $2,500
The Summit County Historical Society of Akron Ohio, to support Summit County diversity outreach, $2,500
Summit Food Coalition, to support updates to our local food guide to aid in economic recovery efforts, $2,500; to support racial equity training and host conversations on its implications for food justice, $2,500
Summit Metro Parks, to support the building of the Sojourner Truth statue, $5,000
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to support integration of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in programming and training, $2,500
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates, to provide personal health and safety supplies to safely maintain the organization's current operations, $5,000
Truly Reaching You, to support the "Working It Out: Personal Stories of Reentry and Overcoming the Odds" project, $3,250
Truly Reaching You, for re-imagining reentry and recovery based on COVID-19, $5,000
United Disability Services, to support a new collaboration with VANTAGE Aging to deliver food through Meals on Wheels to elderly and vulnerable residents who are homebound due to the current health crisis, $3,000
Urban Vision, to distribute support kits with cleaning supplies, groceries, easy meals and essential items to families in the North Hill neighborhood, $5,000
VANTAGE Aging, to support a new collaboration with United Disability Services to deliver food through Meals on Wheels to elderly and vulnerable residents who are homebound due to the current health crisis, $5,000; to purchase personal protective equipment, $2,500; and to support diversity, equity and inclusion training for staff, $2,500
Victim Assistance Program, to provide 24/7 crisis intervention hotline services, $5,000; to support an organizational Racial Equity Institute (REI) assessment to improve service to Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities in Summit County, $5,000
The Village of St. Edward Foundation, to purchase personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and food for vulnerable independent living residents to prevent the contraction and spread of COVID-19, $3,000
Wadsworth Communications Inc., to provide critical COVID-19-related information to listeners and support a safe alternative graduation ceremony for Wadsworth High School seniors, $2,000
Walsh Jesuit High School, to create and share the "Courageous Conversations" podcast to help bring authentic understanding to the experiences that marginalized communities face, $2,500
Well Community Development Corporation, to support a rent assistance fund for tenants and vulnerable families at Mason Park Community Learning Center, $5,000
Western Reserve Playhouse, to support online arts education and workshops as a safe alternative to youth summer camps, $5,000 (with funding support from Bath Community Fund); to sponsor a production showcasing the many challenges of cultural stereotypes and systemic racism that people of color face, $2,500

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