Akron Community Foundation

06/19/2026

Our office will be closed today in recognition of Juneteenth. The holiday, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. and was first celebrated in 1865 in Texas.

06/17/2026

We’re pleased to wish a Happy 30th Work Anniversary to Steve Schloenbach, ACF’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Steve is a pivotal team member here, as he’s responsible for our financial and accounting systems, which are complex to say the least. He also leads our finance committee, where investment decisions continue to yield substantial growth and investment back into the community. His professional knowledge is respected across industries, which is why he was named Crain’s Cleveland Business’ CFO of the Year in 2016.

In addition to his professional expertise, Steve has a compassion for the community; he's the board chair for South Street Ministries and has served as a volunteer at several local organizations. And as an outdoor enthusiast, Steve can sometimes be found canoeing in Summit Lake or hiking along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. And among all this, he makes sure not to take himself too seriously, whether it’s regaling listeners with a funny story, dressing up as local TV legend Superhost for our annual meeting to help promote our On the Table event, or even donning some lederhosen to celebrate Oktoberfest. We’re grateful that Steve has been a staple for Akron Community Foundation for so long and continues to be. Happy Anniversary, Steve!

06/12/2026

Congratulations to the 4th class of the Institute for Emerging Philanthropists, which earlier this week celebrated with a graduation event at the Akron Civic Theatre’s Knight Stage. The full-year program teaches best practices for making a difference in the community, from how nonprofits work, to financial philanthropic advice and grant-making exercises. As a result, the class members award grants to local nonprofits at the program’s conclusion. Congrats to the nonprofits receiving grants, which include:
• The Valor Court of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, led by Judge Susan Baker Ross, which received an unrestricted grant of $5,000 to help veterans served by the Valor Court;
• The Summit County Continuum of Care, which received $10,000 for the Lived Experience Leadership Pilot Initiative, which seeks to put people with lived experience of homelessness on boards and committees of organizations serving people struggling with homelessness;
• Portage Path Behavioral Health, which received an unrestricted grant of $15,000 to help provide life-changing services for those experiencing a mental health or substance abuse diagnosis; and
• Family Promise of Summit County, which received a $20,000 grant for the Rally for Renovation campaign. The organization is raising $175,000 to help enhance and increase housing for families experiencing homelessness.

The Institute for Emerging Philanthropists program takes place every other year. At the end, each member has a better grasp of how to use their time, talent, treasure, and ties to move the needle in an area they or their family want to enhance. They also join a network of alumni who are also focused on improving our community. For info, contact Karen Hrdlicka, Director of the Center for Family Philanthropy, at www.akroncf.org/personnel/karen-a-hrdlicka/,or visit https://www.akroncf.org/giving/overview/center-for-family-philanthropy/the-institute-for-emerging-philanthropists/

06/11/2026

We’re hiring a Community Investment Specialist at Akron Community Foundation. Responsibilities include helping with quarterly grant cycles, along with affiliate fund grants and other emerging programs. The person also will work with grant seekers, grantees, and other partners, providing guidance on the foundation's discretionary grantmaking process and CRM software and support to those seeking ACF funding, along with assisting the grants administrator, among other areas. For a full job description and other guidelines, please visit https://www.akroncf.org/about-us/work-with-us/

06/11/2026

Congratulations to Kristen Ashby, our Director of Marketing, for being named to Leadership Akron’s Signature Class 43! She will join area leaders from numerous sectors to deepen their understanding of Greater Akron through this immersive, 10-month program. Kristen is such a valuable member of our team and an impeccable leader within the organization. We look forward to the relationships and knowledge of the community she’ll develop as part of this program. Congrats Kristen!

Leadership Akron is proud to welcome Signature Class 43. 🎉

This year’s class brings together 40 leaders from across business, nonprofit, government, education, healthcare, philanthropy, arts and culture, and community development. Together, they will begin a ten-month experience designed to deepen their understanding of Greater Akron, build meaningful connections across sectors, and consider how their leadership can serve the community for the long haul.

“Signature is one of the most meaningful ways leaders can come to know Greater Akron and one another,” said Justin Hilton, President and CEO of Leadership Akron. “Class 43 represents a wide range of experiences, industries, and perspectives. As they move through this year together, they will be invited to listen deeply, think differently, and consider how their leadership can serve the community for the long haul.”

Join us in welcoming Class 43!

📣 Read the full announcement: https://www.leadershipakron.org/press-releases-blog/pr6-10-26

👉🏻 Meet the class here: https://www.leadershipakron.org/signature43

06/10/2026

Our board of directors recently announced $6.2 million in grants and approved $671,500 in arts and culture grants chosen by the foundation's Community Investment Committee. Our board approved 57 arts and culture grants in total, including $7,500 for the Akron Black Artist Guild to provide an array of programs that offer exhibition opportunities and professional development for Akron artists from historically underrepresented communities. Other grant recipients included The National Center for Choreography - Akron, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, along with Killer Video, a new grantee receiving $5,000 for operating funds, including an Akron independent horror film festival, along with a program called Little Monsters, a family-friendly event series that pairs media literacy with hands-on creativity. For a full list of arts and culture grants, visit the news section of our website (akroncf.org).

06/10/2026

part 11

06/10/2026

part 10

06/10/2026

part 9

06/10/2026

part 8