The Stephen a Comunale Jr
The Stephen a Comunale Jr is an Akron, Ohio, private foundation whose website identifies its public-facing organization as the Comunale Cancer Foundation. It supports people and families affected by cancer through financial assistance and community programs in Northeast Ohio.
The Stephen a Comunale Jr at a glance
In short: The Stephen a Comunale Jr gave $443K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in Ohio. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $442,614
- +41.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $27,663
- +5.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $7,239,768
- +19.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (7 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Stephen a Comunale Jr
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 13805, Akron, OH 44333
Phone: (234) 706-2052
Website: HTTP://WWW.STEPHENCOMUNALE.ORG/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Stephen a Comunale Jr funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Aultman Foundation ($35K). Together the top 10 received $46K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 60 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Akron, Ohio. Its website describes its programs as reaching Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne counties. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio and 1% to recipients in Washington, D.C.; the filing also lists a recipient in California, representing 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Stephen a Comunale Jr open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 14 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $257K (2021) to $443K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $443K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Various Individuals Affected by Can Akron, OH | Food, Shelter/Utilities, Clothing, Misc Medical and Insurance Expenses | $395,344 |
| The Aultman Foundation Canton, OH | Health/Human Services and Education | $35,000 |
| ASC Cancer Action Network Washington, DC | Support Families of Individuals Touched by Cancer | $2,500 |
| Akron Rotary Club Akron, OH | Education | $1,500 |
| Josette Beddell Memorial Foundation Canton, OH | Health/Human Services and Education | $1,500 |
| Ben Curtis Foundation Kent, OH | Health/Human Services and Education | $1,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $1,000 |
| Project Outrun Fairlawn, OH | Support for Children Touched by Cancer | $1,000 |
| SSP Hope Ministries Canton, OH | Health and Human Services | $1,000 |
| The North Foundation Wadsworth, OH | Support Families of Individuals Touched by Cancer | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Stephen a Comunale Jr?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,239,768 | $2,599,422 | $1,289,604 | $442,614 | 16 | $668,921 | $802,692 |
| 2024 | $6,043,604 | $1,002,008 | $610,921 | $313,942 | 12 | $531,526 | $603,692 |
| 2023 | $5,168,596 | $1,765,730 | $1,033,928 | $317,520 | 13 | $529,230 | $115,511 |
| 2022 | $3,642,262 | $502,790 | $585,506 | $315,432 | 10 | $518,525 | $164,155 |
| 2021 | $4,553,642 | $1,944,258 | $914,407 | $256,511 | 9 | $489,661 | $389,041 |
| 2020 | $3,391,065 | $476,730 | $536,590 | $285,932 | 5 | — | $56,701 |
| 2019 | $3,243,419 | $542,222 | $610,576 | $366,589 | 12 | — | $261,393 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website says it was established to provide financial assistance and partner programming for local families battling cancer. Its programs include help with rent or mortgage payments, utility bills and other day-to-day needs; holiday meals; Sunshine Bags for newly diagnosed patients; and programs for children, including art and horse camps and back-to-school assistance. The website describes these programs as serving people in Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne counties. Its financial-assistance eligibility page specifies that an applicant or family member must be receiving active cancer treatment and that the applicant must reside or be treated in Medina, Portage, Summit or Stark County.
The foundation’s 2025 grants also show support for organizations whose stated missions include helping Northeast Ohio families affected by breast cancer (Josette Beddell Memorial Foundation) and providing education and support for pediatric cancer patients and their families (Project Outrun). The foundation also awarded grants for health and human services, education, scholarships and cancer-family support.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $442,614. Grant amounts ranged from $120 to $395,344, with a median of $1,000. The largest listed grant, $395,344, went to various individuals affected by cancer in Akron for food, shelter or utilities, clothing, miscellaneous medical expenses and insurance expenses. Other notable grants included $35,000 to The Aultman Foundation for health and human services and education; $2,500 to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to support families touched by cancer; and $1,500 each to Akron Rotary Club and Josette Beddell Memorial Foundation.
The foundation’s website accepts applications from individuals seeking financial assistance; required materials include verification of income, diagnosis and treatment, along with copies of recent bills. Payments are made directly to providers, not to patients or families, and an independent committee reviews applications. Separately, the 2025 filing states that the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John Comunale as president; Amanda Comunale as vice chair; Stephen Comunale as chairman; Monica Stevens as executive director; Julie Deane and Kevin Fink as directors; Ruth George as secretary; Dale Ruther as treasurer; and Nick Betro and Brett Haverlick as directors.
The Stephen a Comunale Jr is led by Monica Stevens, Executive Director since 2020 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Monica Stevens
Executive Director
Vice President & Executive Director → Executive Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$67K (2019) → $80K (2025)
John Comunale
President
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Comunale
Chairman
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Deane
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Fink
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Betro
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brett Haverlick
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jr Fowler
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Comunale
Vice Chair
Vice Chairman → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale Ruther
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ruth George
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Dennis McCluskey (2019–2024) — Medical Advisor
- Former: Nicholas George (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Edward Newman (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Ruthie George (2019–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Susan Schoellkopf (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Rennick Andreoli (2019–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $80K, to Monica Stevens (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Stephen a Comunale Jr
How much does The Stephen a Comunale Jr give each year?
The Stephen a Comunale Jr gave $443K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $314K across 12 grants.
What is The Stephen a Comunale Jr's typical grant size?
The Stephen a Comunale Jr's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $27,663, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Stephen a Comunale Jr that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Stephen a Comunale Jr give grants?
The Stephen a Comunale Jr gives mostly in Ohio: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Akron, OH (4 grants) and Canton, OH (3 grants).
Does The Stephen a Comunale Jr give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Stephen a Comunale Jr's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Health/Human Services and Education" (6 grants).
Who are The Stephen a Comunale Jr's largest grantees?
The Stephen a Comunale Jr's largest 2025 grantees include The Aultman Foundation ($35,000), ASC Cancer Action Network ($2,500) and Akron Rotary Club ($1,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Stephen a Comunale Jr?
The Stephen a Comunale Jr reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $2.6M.
What does The Stephen a Comunale Jr fund?
The foundation’s website says it was established to provide financial assistance and partner programming for local families battling cancer. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Stephen a Comunale Jr?
The Stephen a Comunale Jr does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check stephencomunale.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Stephen a Comunale Jr's EIN?
The Stephen a Comunale Jr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4345267. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Stephen a Comunale Jr accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 1, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Stephen a Comunale Jr funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-stephen-a-comunale-jr-morg_ae471a6757614b02847a2d0bb6a4d62e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204345267_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Stephen a Comunale Jr funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-stephen-a-comunale-jr-morg_ae471a6757614b02847a2d0bb6a4d62e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Stephen a Comunale Jr's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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