February 2026

Charitable giving: timing is crucial

Nonprofit professionals understandably spend a lot of “communication energy” explaining why their mission matters. Donors need to hear stories of impact, learn about outcomes, and understand what their gifts make possible. Yet there is another factor that often drives giving just as strongly as the “why,” and it receives far less attention: timing. Donors do not decide only whether to give. They also decide when. Crucial timing decisions are influenced by patterns that are surprisingly consistent.

Registrations open for Nonprofit Insights Conference

Akron Community Foundation's Third Annual Nonprofit Insights Conference will take place Thursday, March 12 at the Doubletree Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, and will feature keynote speakers Aleda Gagarin, vice president of influence for Candid, and Fred Brown, president and CEO of Forbes Funds, along with a day of breakout sessions, with topics ranging from leadership and marketing to technology and fundraising. Workshops, interactive sessions, and insightful keynotes will help participants gain valuable skills, strategic insights, and practical tools to navigate the challenges of the nonprofit landscape. Cost is $25 per person. Organizations may send up to two attendees, but seating is limited.

Getting started on a responsible AI use policy

Arts & Culture grant reports due March 1, submitted through new application system

Grant reports for Arts & Culture grantees are due March 1 and should be submitted through our new grant portal. If you haven’t created your GOapply user account, please do so as soon as possible. All grant reports have been assigned to your organizations and are visible to GOapply users within your organization. You can create your user account by visiting this link and following the steps on the page or instructions are linked here.

Diversity Center hosts March 5 Student leadership Summit

Helpful tips for new users of our grant portal

We recommend adding at least two users under your organization in our new grant portal. Doing so helps ensure someone can access the portal at any given time. If your organization only has one staff member, consider asking your board president to register as a second user.

For overall safety, do not share your portal log-in and password with others within your organization. Sharing credentials can lead to several, serious security risks. We also recommend not creating your account using a generic email address (ex: grants@nameofyournonprofit.org), which leads to password sharing and will likely create inaccuracies in email communications from ACF. Staff who need access to grant records and information in your organization may easily register in the portal. You can create your user account by visiting this link and following the steps on the page or instructions are linked here.

Questions? Contact Kim Nott, Grants Administrator, at knott@akroncf.org or 330-436-5625, or Mariana Silva, Community Investment Officer, at msilva@akroncf.org or 330-436-5612.

• Feb. 26: Community Issues Session: How Summit County Has Built a Cradle-to-Career Education Strategy
• March 1: Arts and Culture grant applications open
• March 12: Nonprofit Insights Conference
• March 26: Women's Endowment Fund's "For Women, Forever" Annual Celebration

Visit Our Nonprofit Resources Hub

The Nonprofit section of our website features helpful, free information and resources like training videos, past newsletters, articles and more and is updated regularly. Check back for the latest news and information.

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