Women's Endowment Fund Grant

The Women's Endowment Fund Grant, initiated in 1993, aims to uplift women and girls in Summit County through significant financial support and empowerment programs. With a fund exceeding $5.2 million, it has distributed nearly $2.5 million in grants, focusing on economic empowerment, health and wellness, and safety from violence. The fund encourages local organizations to apply, emphasizing the advancement of women as philanthropists and community leaders.

Inspiring, empowering and uplifting women and girls
In 1993, a group of 106 women came together with one goal in mind – to make a difference in the lives of local women and girls. Seeing a need for funding to support programs that empower this population, the women each gave $1,000 to start the Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation.
Three decades later, the Women's Endowment Fund has grown to more than $5.2 million, thanks to the generosity of donors who are committed to the advancement of local women and girls, including members of the fund's Circle of Empowerment. To date, the Women's Endowment Fund has awarded nearly $2.5 million in grants to programs that uplift, empower, and educate women and girls throughout Akron and all of Summit County. The fund's biennial forum helps define the Women's Endowment Fund's grantmaking priorities, which include health and wellness, safety from violence, and economic empowerment.
The Women’s Endowment Fund encourages the advancement of Summit County women and girls and their growth as philanthropists.
Current Funding Priorities
Economic empowerment for local women and girls:EntrepreneurshipBuilding assetsFinancial literacyWorkforce developmentEnabling mothers to work productivelySafety from violence:Domestic violenceSexual assaultChildhood sexual abuseRaising awareness/preventing violenceDeveloping a coordinated response to violenceHealth & Wellness:Awareness, education, preventionMental healthReproductive healthTeen pregnancyAccess to treatmentObesity prevention/controlNutrition & physical fitness

Eligibility

Approved 501(c)(3) organization serving Summit county.

Ineligibility

We do not make grants for:EndowmentsScholarshipsDirect financial support to individualsReligious organizations for religious purposesIn accordance with our grant-making priorities, we generally do not fund:Newly established nonprofit organizations that duplicate existing servicesCurriculum for schoolsDisease-specific programsEconomic development initiatives already being addressed by the Fund for Our Economic FuturePrograms at parochial schools that benefit only their studentsMulti-year grants