Stark Community Foundation celebrates record year of philanthropy

The Repository
·2 min read

CANTON – Stark Community Foundation had a record-breaking year, raising $48.8 million in 2021.

The nonprofit noted that $35.9 million was received in outright gifts and $12.9 million was in planned gifts. The gifts established a record of 43 new charitable funds. That increases the total number of charitable funds the foundation manages to 860.

The foundation handed out $14.3 million to hundreds of nonprofits in areas ranging from the arts and animal welfare to affordable housing and education. The grants came from charitable funds that local individuals, families, businesses and organizations created.

"Stark County is fortunate to have so many passionate residents who want to make a difference in our community, and we’re honored to help them support the causes they care about," Mark J. Samolczyk, president and CEO of Stark Community Foundation, said in a prepared statement. "Our milestone year reflects how generous our community is and how inspired people are to pave the way for a stronger and brighter future for Stark County."

The foundation last year also:

  • Awarded nearly $430,000 in inaugural Protecting Stark’s Future grants to nonprofits addressing child poverty.

  • Received its largest gift of $16.7 million to create the Fred F. Silk Charitable Fund.

  • Offered racial equity workshops.

  • Surpassed $375 million in total assets. The foundation ranks in the top 10% of community foundations in the United States.

  • Announced a new program in partnership with Community Building Partnership to improve and expand neighborhood revitalization efforts in Stark County by providing neighborhood associations and community organizations with more programming, training opportunities, expanded communication and financial support.

Since it was established in 1963, the foundation and its family of donors have granted more than $215 million to nonprofits. For more details, go to: www.starkcf.org.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark Community Foundation celebrates record year of philanthropy