Civic Affairs Grants

In 2024, Akron Community Foundation awarded $596,800* in competitive Civic Affairs cycle grants.

• Akron 200 Inc., to support Akron's Bicentennial celebration, including a Bicentennial Bike-a-Thon, parade, concerts, theater events and community forums, among other activities, $26,000
• Akron Cooperative Farms, to support urban farming, sustainable growing practices and education, along with social entrepreneurship opportunities for resettled residents and community building in North Hill, $5,000
• Akron Dream Center, to expand the footprint of a community hub, which provides mentorship and skills-based education programs for young people, $5,000
• Akron Marathon, to support the Akron Marathon Race Series, along with a health and wellness initiative for Summit County businesses and organizations, $10,000
• Akron Parks Collaborative, to support Friends of Parks groups and their work in planning programming and beautification for neighborhood parks, $8,000
• Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs, to provide financial assistance for children and adults with special needs to attend camp, $12,800
• Akron Urban Agriculture, to support Akron Urban Farms, which provides education, marketing, training and volunteers for gardeners and urban farmers, $3,000
• Akron Urban League, for operating support to provide workforce development, anti-recidivism, minority entrepreneurship, and education programs throughout Summit County, $30,000
• Big Love Network, for operating support, which will help the organization address neighborhood environmental concerns and continue to be a resource for environmental justice and health equity in the city, $7,500
• Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council, to support two environmental education initiatives at the Great Trail Council's Camp Manatoc property, $11,000
• Business Volunteers Unlimited, for services in Summit County that include consulting; leadership training; and inclusion, diversity, equity and access initiatives, $8,000
• Candid, to support nonprofits in Summit County with free access to fundraising, nonprofit management, and capacity-building materials and services, $5,000
• CASA Board Volunteer Association, for operating support, including recruiting, screening, training, and supporting community volunteers who serve as advocates for abused and neglected children involved in the juvenile court system, $17,000
• Community Builders Inc., to support resident leadership and Community Life, a service model that uses housing as a platform to connect residents with essential resources at Cascade Village, $2,500
• Community Life Collaborative, to support native tree plantings throughout Akron in neighborhoods with low tree canopy, along with education about caring for the trees, $3,500
• Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, for operating support, which includes educational programs, community partnerships and public events, along with remediation work of the former Brandywine Golf Course, $45,000
• Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, for operating support, including affordable programming for residents taking train rides, and maintenance of vintage rail equipment, $32,750
• Downtown Akron Partnership, for operating support for downtown Akron planning, business attraction, residential occupancy, public space enhancement and economic development initiatives, $20,000
• Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership Inc., to support South Front Street businesses during a major construction project with events and initiatives, targeted marketing, additional signage, and resources on available parking, among other efforts, $15,000
• Dr. Bob's Home, for the upkeep of Alcoholics Anonymous founder Dr. Bob's home, along with surrounding properties, $5,000
• The Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), for the Small Business Bootcamp Series, which consists of business basics training paired with individual technical assistance to small-business owners and entrepreneurs at various stages of their business journey, $3,500
• Elevate Akron Incorporated, for supporting and growing community well-being through health and yoga education, $2,500
• Fighting To Understand, to help individuals build skills for constructive disagreement, which will help reframe and create solutions for a complex issue, $5,000
• First Tee - Greater Akron, to support the organization's internship program, $8,250
• Fund for Our Economic Future of Northeast Ohio, to support inclusive economic development, including the retention and attraction of workers, along with green initiatives like proposals to the U.S. EPA for brownfield remediation, $10,000
• GASP (Guardians Advocating Child Safety and Protection), for child safety activities, including child fingerprint kits, educational safety programs and more, $5,750
• Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, for the New Home Construction program, which will construct 12 new homes in Habitat for Humanity's Silver Maple Ridge development, $15,000
• Humane Society of Summit County, for animal intake care, vaccination, testing and microchipping of Summit County's rescued cats and dogs, $20,000
• Ideastream Public Media, to support community interest public media coverage and engagement in Summit County, $8,500
• International Welcome Center, to support operations and programs assisting refugees/immigrants, like legal services, household items, life skills and transportation, $3,250
• Keep Akron Beautiful, to support litter removal, illegal dumping removal, and community cleanups in Akron, $15,000
• Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, to support the ongoing revitalization of the Kenmore community and Kenmore Boulevard, $17,500
• Leadership Akron, for the Signature Program 42 Opening Retreat and the Junior Leadership Akron Class 38 Philanthropy Project, $17,500
• Legacies of Success Community Development Corporation, to support affordable homeownership in North Hill by rehabilitating a distressed property for a family facing barriers to owning a home, $6,000
• Lippman School, to support the Elder Wisdom Academy Plant Talking Project, a garden that uses ancient Native American practices to provide multigenerational connections and fresh produce for low-income seniors, $5,000
• North Hill Community Development Corporation, for operating support, including support of entrepreneurial growth and creating sustainable public spaces, $17,500
• Northern Ohio Railway Museum, to expand public engagement with a living history streetcar transit, including outreach programs and strategic marketing, $1,000
• Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, to support Akron Civic Commons' Summit Lake Environmental Stewardship program, which engages residents in cleanup and guided canal trips to encourage environmental responsibility, $15,750
• Progressive Alliance Community Development Corporation Inc., to foster workforce development and promote the growth of microenterprises in the West Hill community, $5,000
• Safety Forces Support Center, for mental health counseling and peer support services for first responders in Summit County, $10,750
• SCORE, to provide counseling and workshops for small businesses and startups in Greater Akron, $10,000
• Signal Ohio, to support Signal Akron, a nonprofit newsroom serving Akron communities that is anchored in and reflective of residents' needs, $25,000
• South Street Ministries, to support reentry and community engagement initiatives, $20,000
• Special Olympics Ohio, to support costs for Summit County Special Olympics athletes to attend state-level competitions, $5,000
• Summit Metro Parks Foundation, for community-responsive programming at the Summit Lake Nature Center, $12,500
• Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners, for operations, including planting native species, removing invasive species, public education about the value of watersheds and greenspace, and creating healthy urban watersheds in Summit County, $3,500
• Truly Reaching You, to support successful reentry for men through employment skills training, $12,750
• Trust for Public Land, to protect and conserve land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come in Summit County, $5,000
• Weaver Industries Inc., to support an employment services program, $5,750
• Well Community Development Corporation, to support programs that prepare residents for livable wage jobs and homeownership, to support early-stage entrepreneurs, and to connect residents to build social capital, among other efforts, $17,500
• West Hill Neighborhood Organization, to enhance the quality of life in the West Hill neighborhood through community outreach, institutional partnerships, public art, placemaking and other activities, $5,000
• Western Reserve Land Conservancy, for operational support, including restoring habitats and creating healthy urban environments with greenspaces and natural areas, $5,000
• Wingfoot Church, to support a youth mentorship and life skills after-school program, $5,000