Since 2000, Akron Community Foundation has invested more than $7.8 million in education programs all over Greater Akron to enrich our collective quality of life.
Nonprofits interested in applying for an Education grant can review deadlines and other important information on our Community Fund Grants page.
From programs that provide one-on-one mentoring to the preparation for Akron Public Schools’ new College & Career Academies, Akron Community Foundation’s board of directors approved $531,800* in competitive education grants for 2018.
In 2017, Akron Community Foundation’s board of directors approved $502,750 in education grants focused on early childhood education, as well as programs that align with Summit Education Initiative’s Cradle to Career continuum.
A number of education grants will focus on early childhood development, as children in low-income neighborhoods often fall behind in learning before they even enter kindergarten.
A grant to Summit Education Initiative will help the organization form Readiness Coalitions, which will coordinate preschools and other early childhood centers with kindergarten educators to help ensure area children are prepared to begin school.
Greenleaf Family Center is part of this coalition. The agency’s Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) program, which will receive an education grant this quarter, is a home-based initiative that establishes parents as a child’s first and most important teacher.
In addition to the board-directed funds, donor advisors contributed $16,000 to the programs as part of Akron Community Foundation’s grant co-investment program, where fundholders are able to review the grant requests the community foundation receives and supply funding to the programs they’re interested in. Are you a donor-advised fundholder who would be interested in participating in the co-investment program? Please contact Margaret Medzie at 330-436-5610 or mmedzie@akroncf.org. Or, are you interested in learning about these and other exciting programs in our community? When you have a donor-advised fund with us, we can help introduce you to the most promising nonprofits in the community.
In 2016, Akron Community Foundation’s board of directors approved $537,400 in education grants focused on early childhood education, as well as programs that align with Summit Education Initiative’s Cradle to Career continuum.
The board awarded Summit Education Initiative a $35,000 grant to continue their work on instituting consistent measurements for out-of-school programs. Akron Community Foundation began funding the initiative two years ago. Since then, 60 out-of-school providers have aligned with the continuum, Summit Education Initiative officials said.
In addition to the board-directed funds, donor advisors contributed $41,500 to the programs as part of Akron Community Foundation’s grant co-investment program, where fundholders are able to review the grant requests the community foundation receives and supply funding to the programs they’re interested in. Are you a donor-advised fundholder who would be interested in participating in the co-investment program? Please contact Margaret Medzie at 330-436-5610 or mmedzie@akroncf.org. Or, are you interested in learning about these and other exciting programs in our community? When you have a donor-advised fund with us, we can help introduce you to the most promising nonprofits in the community.
From initiatives to help out-of-school providers better measure their successes to programs to help students learn about healthy lifestyles, we funded some of the county's most beneficial educational programs in 2015. In total we awarded 28 grants and $499,500.
A grant to Veggie U teaches children in Akron Public Schools about healthy lifestyles by providing them with gardening kits.
A grant to Child Guidance & Family Solutions supported a behavioral program for young children.
A grant to Greenleaf Family Center supported the SPARK program, which prepares 3- and 4-year-old children for kindergarten.
A grant to Project GRAD Akron supported its Bridge to Kindergarten program,which prepares kids for their first year of school.
A grant to Twinsburg City School District supported the Project Star summer reading program.
A grant to Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority supported its early childhood programs, including ones that introduce young children to animals.
A grant to the public library supported the creation of its Early Childhood Resources Center, which offers reading kits and learning materials for teachers and parents.
A grant to the Akron Bar Association Foundation supported its Street Law Junior program.
A grant to Akron General Medical Center supported an education program for minority students.
A grant to the Arc of Summit & Portage Counties supported a program that shows students what it's like to have a disability.
A grant to Partnership for America's Future supported the Inventucation Academy for Akron Public Schools students.
A grant to Stewart Elementary School supported its African cultural program.
A grant to National Inventors Hall of Fame supported an invention camp for kids.
A grant to the Cleveland Health Education Museum supported the Health On Wheels program for Summit County students.
A grant to Mustard Seed Development Center supported an economic education program for low-income youth and adults.
A grant to Summit Christian School supported its summer basketball program for North Hill students.