Akron Community Foundation President and CEO John T. Petures Jr. announces his retirement, planned for the second quarter of 2025, concluding 17 years of dedicated leadership and unwavering commitment to the foundation and the community it serves, and more than 45 years of nonprofit service in all. 

During his tenure, John and our team have nearly tripled foundation assets and funds, with almost $300 million in assets today, ranking our organization in the top 10% of community foundations by asset size nationwide. The number of charitable funds under management has grown from around 300 to nearly 900, and the community foundation has received an average of nearly $15 million in contributions annually over the past decade. Most importantly, since John joined the foundation in 2008, we've contributed nearly $160 million in grants to nonprofits – roughly 70% of the foundation's all-time grantmaking of $236 million – with an average of more than $12 million in grants annually for the past decade. 

Numbers aside, John has worked diligently to help create a culture reflecting a more welcoming and inclusive organization. He has implemented strategic plans and spurred new ideas that have had far-reaching benefits for our community. His legacy and leadership will leave a permanent positive impact on the Akron region and the many people he’s influenced. We hope you'll join us in congratulating John on his upcoming retirement!

In March, Akron Community Foundation announced quarterly grants and distributions totaling $4.4 million, benefiting hundreds of nonprofits in our community and beyond. Grants approved this quarter include:

Education grants totaling $760,000

Grants from this round of funding will support mentorship and literacy programs, as well as a renewal of Akron Community Foundation's commitment to the Akron Public Schools' Middle Schools Transformation and more. Dreams Academy received a $6,000 grant to support Dreams and Queens Academy, a weekly program that helps students ages 10 to 16 increase their confidence, mental health and self-esteem through activities with local professionals. Learn more.

Proactive grants totaling $52,000

A $52,000 proactive grant to Downtown Akron Partnership will help bring equitable access for future investment and development to downtown Akron. The grant will enable Downtown Akron Partnership to develop an equitable framework as it continues to bring new businesses and residency to the city's core. Learn more.

Gay Community Endowment Fund grants totaling $82,000

The Gay Community Endowment Fund is celebrating its largest grantmaking cycle in 10 years. Grants were awarded to programs addressing needs the fund's leaders have identified as a high priority, including creating safer environments for LGBTQ+ youth, combating phobias of the LGBTQ+ community, and supporting mental health and suicide prevention programs. A $20,000 impact grant will support the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center, a program of the Akron AIDS Collaborative that provides comprehensive support services for LGBTQ+ people of color throughout Summit County. Learn more.

Vernon L. Odom Fund grants totaling $10,500

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 Limitless Ambition and The Village Is Us, both of which received funding to support parent empowerment programs. Learn more.

Over the past year, Akron Community Foundation and Medina County community leaders have been working together as the Medina community has rallied to create the Medina County Community Foundation. Akron Community Foundation recently transferred the $1.1 million fund balance of its Medina County Community Fund to the newly formed foundation.

"This is a wonderful moment for the Medina County community and an exciting way for the fund to celebrate its 30th anniversary," said John T. Petures Jr., president and CEO of Akron Community Foundation. "We've been proud to manage the Medina County Community fund over these past three decades, working with an advisory board of Medina-area leaders to facilitate the distribution of nearly $750,000 in grants back into the community. We applaud the founding board of the new foundation for their due diligence and preparation in shaping the framework of the Medina County Community Foundation's overall governance and operation, and we're pleased to collaborate with them as they're now positioned to move forward with this important work."

Akron Community Foundation recently welcomed 15 new charitable funds to our growing family, including an agency endowment fund established to support the MAPS Air Museum's mission of educating the public about aviation history and its impact on society.