October 2020—ISSUE 19
With an allocation of $6.5 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the County of Summit has partnered with Akron Community Foundation to provide nonprofit organizations in Summit County with one-time grants of up to $50,000.

The community foundation will administer the program through two funds, the Summit County COVID-19 Nonprofit Emergency Relief Grant Program Fund and the Summit County COVID-19 Arts and Culture Emergency Relief Grant Program Fund. In total, $5 million will be distributed to nonprofits that help provide for the basic needs of underserved county residents, and $1.5 million will go to nonprofits in the arts and culture sector.
In September, Akron Community Foundation awarded five grants totaling $565,216 to address the local opioid and addiction crisis through its first round of HSC/Summit County Community Health Fund grantmaking. This funding includes a six-figure grant to Portage Path Behavioral Health to enhance its Dual Diagnosis programs, which focus on residents who suffer from both addiction and mental illness. The fund will award a second round of grants in early 2021, with the next application cycle opening Dec. 1 and closing Jan. 15.
Akron Community Foundation recently announced $150,000 in proactive grants aimed at local diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The Akron Urban League was awarded $100,000 to help increase the organization’s capacity to lead social justice efforts through the addition of a director of diversity and strategic initiatives. ConxusNEO received $50,000 to connect Black residents in Summit County to career opportunities and job preparation resources. Both grants will be awarded over a three-year period.
Akron Community Foundation awarded nearly $4 million in grants this quarter, including more than half a million dollars in competitive civic affairs grants to programs that address the workforce skills gap, support economic empowerment initiatives, and boost neighborhood revitalization programs, among other civic initiatives.
Polsky is canceled, but your ticket can still do good
Please consider a gift to our Community Response Fund for Nonprofits to give back to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives locally
Even though we cannot gather to celebrate one of our community's finest philanthropists this year, we hope you will honor the spirit of Bert Polsky by making a gift to our Community Response Fund for Nonprofits in lieu of your ticket or sponsorship. Your gift will support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives throughout Summit and Medina counties, advancing the important work of creating a more equitable community for all. For more information, contact Margaret Medzie at mmedzie@akroncf.org or 330-436-5610.
Akron Community Foundation recently welcomed 17 new funds to its growing family of more than 690 charitable funds. The Sojourner Truth Project – Akron Fund was established to support the creation, installation and maintenance of a Sojourner Truth statue in Akron near the site of her historic "Ain't I a Woman?" speech.
Additional Resources
Visit Our Affiliate Funds

Akron Community Foundation 
345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307

Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone: 330-376-8522 
Fax: 330-376-0202
www.akroncf.org