Summer 2014

Sugar Plum Tour Seeks Sponsors

We're currently seeking sponsors for this year's fabulous tour of holiday homes, which will be held Sunday, Dec. 7. As the only fundraiser of the Gay Community Endowment Fund, the Sugar Plum Tour is vital to our continued growth. Proceeds support the fund's grant-making to local LGBT programs, and sponsors play a critical role in our ability to award these grants each year.

Learn how you can become a sponsor

Grantee Spotlight

Gay Games Bring Pride, Success to NEO

As the official host sponsor of Summit County events, the Gay Community Endowment Fund was proud to welcome Gay Games 9 to Northeast Ohio this August. Thousands of people from all over the world gathered to celebrate diversity and watch athletes compete in a variety of sports. Medals were won, records were broken, and friendships were made that will last a lifetime.

See photos from the event

Board News

GCEF welcomes new board member

The Gay Community Endowment Fund welcomes its newest board member, Julie Jones, head softball coach at the University of Akron. Julie replaces Steve Schmidt, one of the founders of the fund, who has completed his nine-year term. Steve will become an emeritus member of the board, allowing him to continue sharing his knowledge and encouragement with the fund.

Grant Applications Now Open

The Gay Community Endowment Fund is accepting grant applications for programs that positively impact local LGBT residents. Nonprofit organizations can review the application and should submit online by Sept. 15.

Annual Meeting Draws Crowd

Nearly 125 people joined the Gay Community Endowment Fund on April 27 to celebrate another year of positively impacting the LGBT community. This year's annual meeting was held at the University of Akron's InfoCision Stadium and featured Marty Rouse, national field director of the Human Rights Campaign.

Upcoming Events

Seminar on Implications of Same Sex Relationships

On Thursday, Sept. 11, the University of Akron's School of Law, the Akron Bar Association, and the Center for Family Studies will present a seminar titled, "The Social and Legal Implications of Same Sex Relationships." Stephanie Coontz, director of research and public education for the Council on Contemporary Families, will be the featured speaker.

Donate Now

Support GCEF With Your Donations

Please help support the initiatives of GCEF. See more Ways To Give below.

Contribute now to the Gay Community Endowment Fund

Contribute now to the new GCEF Scholarship Fund

For more information on giving, contact us at [email protected].

Building a Better Future. That's Our Mission.

The Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic fund of Akron Community Foundation. To date, it has reinvested nearly $275,000 to organizations and programs in the greater Akron area that that support or positively impact the LGBT community and serve as a catalyst for full participation of LGBT people in our society. The fund promotes philanthropy within the LGBT and allied communities. Since 2001, the fund has grown to more than $900,000 through gifts, fundraising and bequests. The earned income from this balance is distributed through annual grant-making.

345 W. Cedar St - Akron, OH 44307 - 330.376.8522 - www.akroncf.org