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We regularly hear from nonprofit leaders that getting your board engaged in the right ways can be a challenge. And that's on top of the already high bar to recruit board members in the first place. Finding—and motivating—qualified people who are passionate about your mission, willing to volunteer their time, and prepared to serve as ambassadors for the organization can feel harder than ever.
At the same time, the expectations placed on nonprofit boards continue to grow. Today's board members are not simply expected to attend meetings and vote on motions. They are expected to provide oversight, ensure financial accountability, uphold the organization's mission, support fundraising efforts, and help position the nonprofit for long-term success.
| | According to 2022 data, 71 percent of aggregate revenue reported by U.S. nonprofits is earned income. For nonprofits, “earned income” is revenue generated through the provision of goods or services that align with their mission, as opposed to donations or grants. Nonprofits can raise revenue by selling products, collecting membership dues, or charging fees for charitable, educational, cultural, or other services—as long as these are directly tied to and “contribute importantly” to their mission-driven work. Here’s what nonprofits can do to educate donors, supporters, and the public about earned income. | | | | | |
Civic health measures a community’s capacity to identify and work together to solve problems through participation, civic infrastructure, and self-governance. Join ACF Wednesday, Aug. 19, for our next Community Issues Session for an opportunity to build shared understanding, strengthen alignment across sectors, and hear about ways to invest in ideas that are working for Summit County. Speakers include Rev. Raymond Greene, Jr., Executive Director, The Freedom BLOC; Eleni Manousogiannakis, Executive Director, Better Kenmore CDC; Bridget Ambrisco, Executive Director, Akron Parks Collaborative; Kaitlin Booth, Deputy Director, Akron-Summit County Public Library; and Patrick Gerber, Senior Adventure Lead, TomTod Ideas.
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Naturally, your organization understands the importance of planned giving. But, if you are like many nonprofits, figuring out a way to track it and measure success leaves you scratching your head. That's understandable. Unlike an annual campaign, planned giving is built on relationships that often develop over many years. A donor may first express interest today but not finalize an estate gift until years later. That long timeline can make it difficult to know whether your efforts are paying off.
| | | | The recent U.S. inflation measures show that high prices have not departed yet—and they continue to fuel an affordability crisis in critical sectors like healthcare, housing, food, and education. For nonprofits delivering vital services to struggling individuals, families, and communities, this economic reality pushes them into higher operating costs and decreased funding. To survive, nonprofits must tighten up financially and be willing to think disruptively about their service models. There are a few things nonprofits can do to weather this storm. | | |
The AI Catalyst Institute is offering a free AI training session exclusively for nonprofit professionals, Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Bounce Innovation Hub. The session will cover how AI is already changing how nonprofits develop funding proposals, communicate with donors, deliver programs, and document outcomes, among other tasks. Participants will learn a low-risk AI playbook and a reusable work flow. This is a working, hands-on session and space is limited.
| | 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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Contact Us
Akron Community Foundation
345 West 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
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