Akron Community Foundation

Akron Community Foundation is a permanent philanthropic endowment designed to enrich the lives of Summit County, Ohio, residents and meet the changing needs of greater Akron, Ohio.

Akron Community Foundation is composed of more than 520 funds representing individuals, families, organizations, corporations and issues. Notable funds include the Women’s Endowment Fund, Gay Community Endowment Fund, Medina County Community Fund, Medina County Women's Endowment Fund, Millennium Fund for Children, Bath Community Fund and the Vernon L. Odom Fund, which is named for the late leader of the Akron Urban League.

As of Dec. 31, 2015, the community foundation had assets of nearly $184 million and had awarded more than $131 million in grants since its inception.

John T. Petures Jr. heads the foundation’s 17-person staff, and Steven Cox leads the 24-person volunteer board.

Akron Community Foundation began in 1955 with an initial gift of $1,033,533 from Edwin Coupland Shaw, an Akron industrialist. Shaw’s goal, as expressed in his will, was to create a way for local residents to give back to their community as the community's needs changed over time. It was his desire that there be a flexible means of fulfilling people’s philanthropic goals in the Akron area.

A board of trustees was soon created that would serve to appropriate income from the fund. The trustees came from all walks of life and brought with them expertise in at least one field. This tradition continues today and ensures that community foundation decisions reflect the best interest of the entire Summit County community.

The original trustees of Akron Community Foundation were Paul E. Belcher, John L. Collyer, Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., Paul A. Frank, John S. Knight, Paul W. Litchfield, W.B. McIntosh, Forrest D. Myers, C. William O'Neill, Bert A. Polsky and J. Penfield Seiberling.

Shaw died in 1941, but his cause was carried on by other civic-minded citizens who continued to make gifts to the community foundation. Since the time of Shaw’s original bequest of $1 million, the community foundation has grown to nearly $184 million to support the health, educational, cultural and welfare needs of Summit County residents.

The community foundation awards grants to eligible 501(c)(3), 509(a) public charities, as determined by the IRS.

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