Akron Community Foundation seeks proposals for proactive grant program
Grantmaking will focus on initiatives addressing housing, mental health and public safety
Akron Community Foundation has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) calling for impactful project ideas that address critical needs in Summit County in the areas of housing, mental health, and public safety. Up to $1 million in proactive funding is expected to be available over the next two years.
This round of funding, part of the foundation's proactive grantmaking strategy, is aimed at collaborative projects that elevate diversity and leverage community resources. This RFP is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a strong history of serving the Summit County community.
The foundation's focus areas — housing, mental health, and public safety — emerged from a community needs assessment conducted by the Center for Community Solutions, which highlighted these as the most pressing issues for Summit County. This past June, the foundation hosted an Appreciative Inquiry Summit, which brought together 160 local leaders, residents, and nonprofits to identify strategies and solutions that could generate lasting, positive changes in these three areas.
"Shaped by community listening, this RFP calls on local organizations and community leaders to come together, build resilient systems, and invest in solutions that will empower and strengthen our neighborhoods for generations," said Cristina González Alcalá, Ph.D., director of community investment at Akron Community Foundation. "By centering the lived experiences and priorities of Summit County residents, we're investing in solutions that address the root causes of critical issues. Our commitment is to forge partnerships that turn these insights into meaningful action, creating a more equitable future for all."
Since 2019, Akron Community Foundation has invested nearly $700,000 in proactive grants. This proactive process was created to provide additional support to nonprofit partners in key areas of need, which previously included addiction recovery, support for aging adults, and diversity, equity and inclusion. By addressing critical issues like these early on, the foundation aims to prevent crises, foster meaningful collaboration, and achieve sustained, long-term impact. Prior proactive grantmaking has supported initiatives like the Downtown Akron Partnership's equity framework development, Direction Home Akron Canton's efforts to make Summit County more livable and accessible for people of all ages, the Summit County Cultural Plan with ArtsNow, and diversity initiatives with the Akron Urban League.
For more information on this RFP, including application details, eligibility requirements, and deadlines, please visit akroncf.org/ProactiveRFP.
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 $305 million with a growing family of more than 880 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 $250 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.