Akron Community Foundation

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday for our fall hiking event for young professionals. It was a beautiful morning to enjoy the scenic Summit Metro Parks and connect with many of our advisor colleagues. A special shoutout to Jared Hoffman, CFP®, of Broadleaf Partners for co-hosting this event with our own Laura Lederer. If you're a professional advisor looking to get connected in the community, we'd love to have you join us at our next event. Reach out to Laura at llederer@akroncf.org to learn more.

Applications are now open for Akron Community Foundation's new round of proactive grant funding to support projects that will make a significant community impact in Summit County in the areas of housing, mental health and public safety. Priority will be given to ideas that are collaborative, elevate diversity and leverage existing resources, along with addressing one of the following themes: trusted connections, youth engagement, affordable housing and community stewardship. Applications are due Dec. 1. For more information, including the Request for Proposals and a recording of our recent informational webinar, please visit https://lnkd.in/gfPpRnxw.

Today is the 31st anniversary of the Women's Endowment Fund, which has awarded $2.3 million in grants to programs that uplift, empower, and educate women and girls in Summit County. To make a gift to the fund, visit www.akroncf.org/give/wef.

💡 Did You Know? The community foundation offers donor-advised fundholders the same tax and administrative benefits as a national financial institution, but with a wide variety of additional perks, including: ✅ In-house experts who have a finger on the pulse of community needs, the strengths of specific nonprofits, and how to structure grantmaking for the highest possible community benefit. ✅ Opportunities to collaborate with other donors who care about similar issues and forums to tap into local and national subject matter experts. ✅ Family philanthropy and corporate giving services to foster a well-rounded, holistic approach to philanthropy. ✅ Administrative fees that are reinvested into the community foundation, itself a nonprofit, to help support operations, grow its mission, and help even more donors support the causes they care about. If you've established a donor-advised fund at a national financial institution, we'd love to chat about moving it over to the community foundation. At the community foundation, your hard-earned assets receive the attention they deserve as you and your family strive to make a difference in the causes you care about the most. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gsG6DZP8.

Advisors: Gifting a life insurance policy is a simple and impactful way for your clients to support their favorite charities. Whether they choose to donate a new or existing policy, your clients can magnify their future impact while receiving valuable tax benefits today. Here are 5 options you can share with your clients when discussing their year-end giving plans: https://lnkd.in/gF_B8N44

As Akron nears its bicentennial next year, an important piece of the city’s history and future is nearing completion. The Akron History Center, which will serve as a companion to the yearlong celebration, is a new 3,000-square-foot museum that will encompass the city’s 200-year history and house several unique artifacts. Congratulations to Akron History Center President Dave Lieberth, Akron-Summit County Public Library, The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio, and the many other partners involved in bringing this extraordinary project to life. Akron Community Foundation is proud to support the Akron History Center through our grantmaking, in addition to a recent civic affairs grant that was awarded to Akron 200 Inc., which is organizing the city’s bicentennial celebration. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/e3Gh79pQ

There are only a few days left to get discounted early bird tickets for the Gay Community Endowment Fund's annual Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes! Save $5 or more when you purchase your live or virtual tour tickets by Oct. 31. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gb7JJWrS.

Today is the anniversary of the Magical Theatre Company Endowment Fund, which supports the work of this Barberton-based professional theater company geared toward young audiences and families. With performances held at the historic Park Theatre, the organization has served as a community staple for decades. To make a gift to the fund, visit https://lnkd.in/gYi4Vgtm.

Thanks to everyone who attended last week’s Community Issues Session at House Three Thirty, which focused on youth and mental health. The panel discussion featured leaders, advocates, and students and explored the current mental health challenges facing our youth and the resources available to support them. We appreciate the representatives from AxessPointe Community Health Centers, Coleman Health Services, Guys and Gals Partnerships, Red Oak Behavioral Health and Akron Public Schools for offering their insights. Conversations like these are instrumental to understanding the many issues and organizations supported by our grantmaking. For a full playlist of this and other Community Issues Sessions, visit our YouTube channel at https://lnkd.in/gt5PBYDU.

We’re happy to report that Akron Community Foundation has reached a new milestone of $300 million in charitable assets. We’ve come a long way since the initial $1 million bequest that launched this organization in 1955. That initial gift has since led to nearly $250 million in grants, made possible by charitable people from all walks of life joining together. We’re so proud to work hand-in-hand with the people and organizations that help improve our community every day!