New co-chair touts Green Community Fund’s early success; first grants planned for January

Kelly Schultz, co-chair of the Green Community Fund, addressed the Green City Council on Nov. 12 to outline the fund’s mission, early fundraising and governance structure.

"For those of you that don't know me, my name is Kelly Schultz. I am a lifelong Green resident slash business owner," Schultz said, and described herself as recently becoming co-chair of the advisory board. She told council the fund aims "to improve the long term quality of life here through supporting green based and green impacting nonprofits of all sizes and shapes." Schultz said the fund has "nearing just about 300,000 in donations and pledges" raised for activities to directly impact Green residents and that its first round of grants will occur in January.

Schultz said the Green Community Fund is an affiliate of the Akron Community Foundation, which provides administrative services and investment management. "We do have full time staff members that come to all of our meetings, write our minutes for us, and help us with our financial statements," Schultz said, describing the efficiency of sharing back-office services while retaining advisory oversight of local disbursements. She also thanked Mayor Rocco Juergen for a personal donation and invited council members to help identify nonprofits that should apply.

Mayor Rocco Juergen and other council members praised the effort, noting that community endowments can grow over time to support local needs. Schultz said there are multiple giving options, including retirement-account transfers and stock gifts, and encouraged residents and council members to consult the fund’s Facebook page and the Akron Community Foundation’s pages for more information.

Next step: Schultz said the fund will complete its initial fundraising by the end of the year so that founding donors are recognized and the January grant cycle can proceed.