Akron Community Foundation announced quarterly grants and distributions totaling $4,956,173, benefiting hundreds of nonprofits in our community and beyond. Grants approved this quarter include:

Proactive grants totaling $404,000

As part of its recently redesigned proactive grantmaking process, the foundation approved $404,000 for seven grants focused on housing, mental health, and public safety. These grants support programs with the potential for significant, long-term community impact. Learn more.

Education grants totaling $764,109

A total of 39 organizations will receive education grants, including ASIA Inc., which received a $20,000 grant for its International Community Empowerment Project, a program that helps immigrant and refugee youth better adapt to the community through language services, homework assistance, summer camps and leadership training, among other avenues. Learn more.

First-ever Green Community Fund grants totaling $15,000

Eight organizations will receive a total of $15,000 for programs that serve Green residents and strengthen the community. Among this year's grant recipients is FellowshipWorks, which received a $2,500 grant to provide new athletic shoes to preschool through third grade students attending Green Local Schools. Learn more.

Vernon L. Odom Fund grants totaling $11,400

Funding was awarded to 12 organizations dedicated to enriching the quality of life within local communities of color. Among this year's grant recipients are Akron Youth Mentorship, Centenary United Methodist Church and Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio, which are all providing arts-focused opportunities for students. Learn more.

Tax time is a great reason to review the basics! At Akron Community Foundation, our goal is to help make the tax aspects of your charitable giving as easy and effective as possible. If you've already established a donor-advised or other type of fund at the community foundation, or if you're considering starting a fund in 2025, it may be helpful to scan our FAQs for a few of the tax rules that apply to charitable giving. For more information or to learn more about our charitable fund types, contact Laura Lederer, vice president and chief development officer, at 330-436-5611 or llederer@akroncf.org.

Akron Community Foundation recently welcomed 18 new charitable funds to our growing family, including an agency endowment fund established by Ballet Excel Ohio to support its mission of providing professional-level training and performance opportunities to talented young dancers and educating young audiences in the art of ballet through original children's ballets performed by children, for children.