Board Member: John F. Garofalo

Vice President, Community Investment
Akron Community Foundation

John F. Garofalo has served as the vice president, community investment at Akron Community Foundation since August 2011.  He is responsible for managing the foundation’s grant distribution process as well as all the affiliate fund grant distributions.

The foundation began in 1955 with a $1 million gift from the estate of B.F. Goodrich executive Edwin C. Shaw.  It now has over $181 million in assets and more than 550 funds. The foundation, including donor-advised funds, has awarded over $131 million since the organization’s founding.   

 John joined Akron Community Foundation after over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector that included various management and development positions.  John was previously employed as the Manager, Strategic Community Initiatives and Senior Development Officer at University Hospitals in Cleveland, where he was responsible for all third-party fundraising events and promotions for the entire hospital system and well as securing major gifts for the institution.  He also served in various leadership roles at other nonprofit organizations including Beech Brook in Pepper Pike, United Way’s in Cleveland and Canton and Big Brothers and Sisters in Akron.  He began his nonprofit career right out of college with the American Red Cross in Portage County and was employed for 10 years there and at the Northern Ohio Red Cross Blood Services region in Cleveland.

John received his B.S. in community health education from Kent State University and his M. Ed. in community health management and administration also from Kent State.  John also carries the prestigious Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification.  John currently serves as a board member for Plexus Education Foundation, Leadership Akron, and the Social Services Advisory Board.

A native of Painesville, Ohio, John lives West Akron with his partner Matt.