Best Akron Grants for Nonprofits in Ohio

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors.

George and Arlene F. Lepeska Scholarship Fund

• Student should demonstrate strong extracurricular activities, academic excellence.
• Must show financial need.

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Velma Shotwell Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Velma Shotwell Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to assist graduates of Conotton Valley or Carrollton High Schools planning to enroll, or currently enrolled, at an accredited college or university to pursue further education in the following fields: History, Writing (not limited to, English, Journalism, Language Arts, Communications and programs in Mass Media), Graphic Arts, Music (which shall include but not limited to, vocal music, instrumental music, music history, music education, and music performance) and any other program or field of study approved by the Selection Committee. 

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500.

Renewable:

• Yes

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Perry Township School Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Perry Township School Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to assist high school graduates or high school seniors who have permanent residency in Perry Township in Carroll County, Ohio or who had a permanent residence on the date they began their post high school education. Applicants must have been accepted at and are planning to enroll, or are currently enrolled, at an accredited college, university, or technical school with at least a two-year course of study to pursue further education.

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500.

Renewable:

• Yes

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Melvin L. and Frances E. Tolson Scholarship Trust Fund

The Melvin L. and Frances E. Tolson Scholarship Trust Fund was established to assist students who are residents of Carroll County, Ohio in furthering their education with interests in either aviation, art education or fine and performing arts who are enrolled or accepted at a college, university, technical, or vocational school.

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500.

Renewable:

• Yes

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Loris and Merle Coe Scholarship Fund

The Loris and Merle Coe Scholarship Fund assists graduating seniors (including home-schooled students) accepted to any two or four-year college or university who are either a Boy Scout or Girl Scout and have earned either an Eagle Scout Award or rank of Life Scout, Gold Award or Silver Award. 

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500

Renewable:

• Yes

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The John Henry and Nancy May Bell Allensworth Scholarship Fund

The John Henry and Nancy May Bell Allensworth Scholarship Fund assists graduates and seniors of Carrollton or Edison High School in Carroll or Jefferson Counties. Must attend a public college or university which is part of the University System of Ohio. 

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500.

Renewable:

• Yes

CultureSource

CultureSource is a member association for non-profit arts and cultural organizations in Southeast Michigan serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe and St. Clair counties. As a regional service organization, we do this work through hosting professional development workshops that grow creative and leadership capacities, presenting programs that provide space for exchanging ideas about arts and culture, and leading initiatives that bring together stakeholders interested in the public accessing creative expression.

Our MISSION is to advance and cultivate creative and cultural expression in Southeast Michigan.

The Spector Craft Prize for Emerging Artists

The Spector Craft Prize (the “Prize”) is an annual initiative launched in 2025 to champion excellence in American craft. Founded by Abigail Klem Spector and Warren Spector through the Spector Family Foundation, the program supports craft artists at pivotal moments in their careers through awards, mentorship, and community-building.

In an era dominated by rapid technological advancement, the Spector Craft Prize stands as a vital counterbalance by preserving material connections in an increasingly virtual world, supporting creative expression amid declining public funding for arts education, and reconnecting makers and the public to our shared heritage of craft. By championing craft artists at pivotal moments in their careers, the Spector Family Foundation aims to strengthen the role of craft in contemporary American culture.

Aim of the Prize

The Spector Craft Prize for Emerging Artists seeks to identify and support exceptional emerging craft artists whose work demonstrates technical mastery, innovative vision, and deep engagement with American culture. The Prize aims to recognize artists who show significant potential for contributing to the field and who would benefit from the comprehensive support provided by the program.

Selected artists represent the future of American craft and demonstrate a commitment to strengthening craft's role in contemporary American culture through their practice, community engagement, and artistic vision. 

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

DNP Registration Reimbursement Grants Available for the APS Global Physics Summit

DNP is pleased to offer a limited number of registration reimbursement grants to encourage graduate student participation in the annual APS Global Physics Summit. This APS meeting provides an excellent opportunity for students in nuclear physics to present their research, interact with potential employers, and hear about advances in a broad range of physics topics.

If the nominee's application is accepted, the award will cover the early registration fee for students presenting in-person. Students will need to register prior to confirmation of receiving the award.

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Howard and Edith Robertson Malvern Rotary Scholarship Fund

The Howard and Edith Robertson Malvern Rotary Scholarship Fund was established to assist graduating high school seniors who are residents of Brown Township in Carroll County, Ohio. 

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500

Renewable:

• Yes

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Don and Elsie Sickafoose Educational Trust Fund

The Don and Elsie Sickafoose Educational Trust Fund was established to assist students residing in Carroll County.

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500.

Renewable:

• Yes

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Church of Christ (Christian Disciples) Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Church of Christ (Christian Disciples) Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to help students who have permanent residence in Carroll County, Ohio or had a permanent residence on the date they began their post high school education.

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Bruce and Crystal Burgett Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Bruce and Crystal Burgett Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to assist Carrollton, Edison, or New Philadelphia High School graduates or graduating seniors majoring in an agricultural-related field of study. Students must demonstrate above-average academic achievement and a history of participation in extracurricular, civic, and/or community activities.

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500.

Renewable:

• Yes

About Levitt

The Levitt Family Foundation exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. We partner with communities to activate underused outdoor spaces, creating welcoming, inclusive destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together and invigorates community life.

Festival Grants

The Levitt Foundation is offering grants of up to $5,000 to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits presenting free outdoor music festivals in 2026. 

Alliance for Social Trust: Trust in Practice Awards

Trust is the foundation of vibrant, resilient communities and healthy civic life. Across the country, local and national organizations are demonstrating the profound ways trust shapes our collective well-being—strengthening relationships between neighbors, cultivating confidence in institutions, and enabling people to work together to solve shared challenges. These efforts are often rooted in the knowledge and leadership of those closest to the work. 

The Trust in Practice Awards support non-profit organizations that are collaborating on new initiatives to build trust across local or virtual communities. Grantees will be part of a national network dedicated to fostering trust through the Alliance for Social Trust’s programs and storytelling platforms. Award recipients will also participate in the annual Trust in Practice Summit to celebrate the work of trust builders.

Coral Gables Community Foundation

Led by community leaders, the Coral Gables Community Foundation provides the philanthropic conduit to connect individuals and corporations looking to positively impact the success of the community. Now in its 33rd year, the Foundation has been at the forefront of the evolving needs of Coral Gables while effectively bringing together beneficiaries and benefactors to fund programs with the greatest impact and benefit to “The City Beautiful.”

Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Scholarships Program

Coral Gables Community Foundation is honored to partner with our fundholders to administer generous scholarships as well as manage the Foundation’s own scholarship funds.

The Foundation and its fundholders have proudly awarded over $6.7 million in scholarships in just the last decade.

High-Achieving Four-Year Scholarship

This 4-year scholarship is given annually to students who have demonstrated overall academic achievement and dedication to service within the school and in his/her community, and have low family income. The Foundation also considers applicants’ motivation, financial need, and personal experiences.

Maintenance

In order to maintain the scholarship each year, the recipient must maintain a minimum overall 3.0 GPA throughout his/her college studies.

United Institute for Theatre Technology

The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) connects performing arts design and technology communities to ensure a vibrant dialog among practitioners, educators, and students.

Driven by our core values of inclusion, excellence, and responsibility, we provide mentorship programs, exhibit opportunities, grant funding, awards, and other opportunities for our members and for the entertainment industry. 

Emerging Digital Design Showcase

USITT is seeking expressions of interest from students and early-career creatives to participate in the Emerging Digital Design Showcase during the USITT26 Annual Conference & Stage Expo. Presented on the main USITT Awards Stage, this curated showcase highlights the next generation of digital and graphic designers working in performance, live events, and immersive environments.

This year’s showcase is inspired by the ocean, coastal environments, and the world beneath the surface — reflecting both the Long Beach location and the ideas of depth, motion, and interconnectedness inherent in live performance. Designers are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly rather than literally.

This showcase is not a competition; rather, it is intended as a platform for visibility, mentorship, and the celebration of emerging voices within the USITT community.

Epps Scholarship

The Epps Scholarship Fund was established at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation by attorneys Willie and Mischa Epps to support the aspirations of college-bound high school seniors with an expressed interest in pursuing a legal education. This fund honors Dr. Willie James Epps, Sr. and Dr. Barbara Bacon Epps, both born and raised in rural, poor and segregated Mississippi, but excelled in school and became a part of the first generation in their respective families to attend college. Both went on to earn Ph.D.’s in the field of education and to teach at various schools, colleges and universities across the country. They instilled in their two children that faith and education are the keys to success. Their children became licensed attorneys who regularly attend church. Willie and his wife Mischa chose a non-traditional path to promote the scholarship opportunity by working in partnership with churches that disseminate the application and deadline information throughout their congregations.

The Epps Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to college-bound high school seniors based on demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, and an express interest in pursuing a legal education.

Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis and disbursed in equal payments in August and January. Each scholarship awarded will be a minimum of $2,000 annually to be paid in two equal installments.

This scholarship is not renewable.

Each year, Innovia awards over $400,000 in scholarships to deserving students like you who are college-bound or pursuing vocational or technical training. Single scholarship awards range between $500 and $4,000.

Spokane Area Swimming Adam England Memorial Scholarship

Graduating high school seniors in all counties served by the Foundation are eligible to apply. Applicants must have participated in competitive swimming meets while in high school and must submit a letter of recommendation from a coach confirming participation in these swimming meets. Applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and plan to enroll in post-high school program at full-time status.

Rika Ream Environmental Scholarship

Applicants must be residents of Spokane County who are accepted or enrolled as a full-time college student to pursue a degree in environmental sciences, environmental studies, ecology, recreational management, or land management. Previous recipients are eligible to re-apply. 

Rick Robinson Hotstart Scholarship

Applicants must be children or grandchildren of full-time Hotstart employees who have a minimum of two years employment with Hotstart as of the application deadline date. 

Previous recipients are eligible to re-apply, but an individual may receive an award no more than four times. 

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors.

Harrington Scholarship Fund for Martin County

For Students in Martin County.

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors.

Harman Family Scholarship Fund

Graduating high school senior residing in Palm Beach County or Martin County.

Ohio Department of Health

The Ohio Department of Health’s mission is advancing the health and well-being of all Ohioans by transforming the state’s public health system through unique partnerships and funding streams; addressing the community conditions and inequities that lead to disparities in health outcomes; and implementing data-driven, evidence-based solutions.

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Project- Community Health Worker (HW27)

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Bureau of Health Improvement and Wellness announces the availability of grant funds.

Society of Toxicology

Founded in 1961, the Society of Toxicology (SOT) is a professional and scholarly organization of scientists from academic institutions, government, and industry representing the great variety of scientists who practice toxicology in the US and abroad. The Society’s mission is to create a safer and healthier world by advancing the science and increasing the impact of toxicology. SOT operates under four guiding principles:

• Serving the needs of the scientific discipline and our members to enhance human, animal, and environmental health.
• Life-long learning and intellectual scientific stimulation.
• Diversity of representation in all activities of the Society.
• Integrity.

ESS Student and Postdoctoral Travel Awards

Description

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is pleased to sponsor two SOT Exposure Specialty Section travel awards for the upcoming 2026 Annual Meeting. Two $500 awards will be provided: one to a student and one to a postdoctoral researcher who is attending the Annual Meeting to present their work as part of the program.  

Who should apply? Any student or postdoc who is the presenting author of an abstract submitted to SOT for the Annual Meeting which indicates an application of exposure science with regards to toxicology. Abstracts will be evaluated based on the exposure assessment or methodology focus, scientific quality and significance of the research project, impact and/or novelty of the findings, written quality of the abstract, and stated need by the candidate.

 YWCA Clark County Chan Barnett Scholarship

The mission of the YWCA Clark County Scholarship is to advance, support and promote education for women returning to the workforce.

The YWCA Clark County Scholarship was founded in 1994 by Channing R. R. Barnett with the purpose of helping women acquire training they need to become employable and self-sufficient.

Channing was sixty when she left her marriage. She had been a wife and mother for thirty two years - and worried she had no 'marketable skills' with which to support herself. Conquering her fears, Chan enrolled in Clark College's Displaced Homemakers Program. With the support of other women, Chan began to explore and develop her own talents. Drawing on her strong conviction to 'paddle her own canoe' she decided to make the most of her resources.

Reading the Wall Street Journal from cover to cover, taking advantage of every free resource she could find, and having the confidence to call investment brokers and ask lots of questions eventually paid off! As Chan said, she went from, "just having my toes in the stock market, then my ankle, and now I'm swimming up to my neck!"

The support she received from YWCA during this challenging time inspired Chan to start YWCA Scholarship. Her personal success is an inspiration to us all; it is her hope to pass along that inspiration to other women who face similar challenges.

Award Amount

One to two scholarships in the range between $1,000 - $4,000 may be awarded at the scholarship committee's discretion.

Roy F. Mather Scholarship

Born in 1918, Roy F. Mather, Jr. described himself as the product of the Great Depression. He contributed to his family's livelihood at a young age, caring for his two younger brothers and working a wide range of agriculture-related jobs available in California's San Fernando Valley. During World War II, Roy worked on merchant ships that sailed from northern Chile to Washington's Puget Sound, transporting nitrate for explosives production. After the War, Roy returned to southern California to marry his wife, Geraldine. They had two children and were married 59 years. Roy applied the work ethic developed in his youth to a variety of jobs—as a Fuller Brush dealer and at aeronautical engineering positions at Lockheed and McDonald Douglas. While raising a family and often working more than one job, Roy took classes at night offered through the University of California's extension services – math, science and law. Later, Roy and his wife lived in Latin America which held a special place for them.

Roy retired in 1969, and he and Geraldine moved to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In his early 60's, Roy could swing a heavy Polanski needed to fight forest fires and later was a spotter for firefighting aircraft. In 1975, Roy and Geraldine moved to Vancouver, Washington.

Roy's character, direction and drive were shaped during times that were much tougher than most of us experience today. In commenting on his hope for his scholarship fund, Roy said, "I want the students to be goal oriented and serious. Earnest, really. I know those are broad terms, but they are ones that helped me throughout my life. I want to reward those students who possess these qualities that will contribute to their future success and life fulfillment."

Award Information

Awards are between $2,000 - $3,500 and are at the discretion of the committee.

Robert and Margaret Pulliam Scholarship

This scholarship was established to encourage and reward academic excellence and community service.

Award Information

6 scholarships are awarded each year. Awards will likely be between $1,400-$1,600.