The Lehner Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy in Akron-area institutions, making a small number of large, targeted gifts to cultural, health, and zoological capital projects and milestone campaigns. Their funding is largely directed toward facility expansion and celebratory capital needs—supporting a zoo capital campaign, a hospital tower project, and a museum centennial effort—indicating a preference for place-based infrastructure and civic legacy projects. The foundation appears willing to make multi-year or repeat commitments to a few anchor nonprofits that shape community amenities.
A defining feature of Lehner Family Foundation grantmaking is its repeated support for capital projects that shape Akron’s civic and health institutions. The foundation has backed the Akron Zoological Park’s New Heights effort with $150,000 in 2025 after an earlier $125,000 capital campaign gift in 2023, and it paired that kind of place-based funding with a $125,000 grant to Summa Health’s West Tower project in both 2024 and 2025. That pattern points to a funder that favors targeted, multi-year commitments rather than a wide scatter of awards. Lehner Family Foundation also supports cultural anchors and community-facing facilities. In 2025, it gave $140,000 to Akron Art Museum for Centennial support, while earlier gifts included museum auction and exhibition funding in 2023 and 2024. Other recent grants show similar capital or improvement purposes at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Humane Society of Summit County, The Well Akron CDC, and Akron History Center. Across these awards, the foundation’s role is less about broad programmatic grantmaking and more about strengthening specific institutions through funding tied to buildings, campaigns, and milestone projects.
Lehner Family Foundation’s recent giving shows clear emphasis on hospitals, cultural institutions, and animal-related capital work. In health care, it awarded $125,000 to Summa Health for the West Tower project in 2025, following the same amount for that project in 2024, and also gave $60,000 to Akron Children’s Hospital for the Serve U ventilator in 2023. In the arts and heritage space, the foundation supported Akron Art Museum with $140,000 for Centennial work in 2025, plus $75,000 in 2023 and $60,000 in 2024 for auction and exhibition funding. For history and stewardship, it gave $40,000 to Akron History Center for “The Rubber Capital of the World” in 2025. It also funded Akron Zoological Park with $150,000 for New Heights in 2025, reinforcing a consistent interest in capital improvements at Akron institutions.
Typical gifts are small relative to the foundation’s larger capital awards: p25 is $3,000, median grant size is $5,000, and p75 is $10,125. The recent record also includes a handful of larger commitments at $25,000 and above, which are often tied to capital campaigns, endowments, or facility projects. Several grantees recur across multiple years, including Akron Zoological Park, Summa Health, Akron Art Museum, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, and St Mary Urban Education Initiative, showing a repeat-relationship pattern. The foundation makes grants only in Ohio, and it funds individuals as well as organizations.
$1.2M
$12M
$1.3M
$1.5M
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of local institutions, often for capital/major campaign purposes with repeat support to key grantees rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Akron Zoological Park, Summa Health, Akron Art Museum
Grantmaking is concentrated in Ohio, with 100% of recorded grants going to recipients in the foundation’s top giving state. Akron accounts for most recipient locations, including Akron Zoological Park, Akron Art Museum, Summa Health, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Akron Children’s Hospital, and Akron History Center. Outside Akron, the recent grants list includes Twinsburg through Humane Society of Summit County, Fairlawn through The Village of St Edward and Stewart’s Caring Place, and Clinton through Loyola Retreat House. The distribution is local rather than multi-state or international.
Its recent grants center on capital campaigns, facility improvements, and milestone projects for Akron institutions. Examples include the West Tower at Summa Health, Centennial support at Akron Art Museum, New Heights at Akron Zoological Park, and restoration or repair work at organizations such as Loyola Retreat House and Daughters of Divine Charity.
No. The grant record provided shows 279 grants, all to recipients in the United States, and 100% of grants go to recipients in Ohio.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $10,125 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes larger awards above $100,000 for specific capital projects.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Akron Zoological Park in 2023 and 2025, Summa Health in 2024 and 2025, Akron Art Museum in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and St Mary Urban Education Initiative in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The list includes hospitals, museums, a zoo, a humane society, a community development corporation, a history center, a camp, and a retreat house. Recent recipients include Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron Art Museum, Akron Zoological Park, Humane Society of Summit County, The Well Akron CDC, and Akron History Center.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKRON ZOOLOGICAL PARK | AKRON, OH | $150,000 | 2025 | NEW HEIGHTS |
| AKRON ART MUSEUM | AKRON, OH | $140,000 | 2025 | CENTENNIAL |
| SUMMA HEALTH | AKRON, OH | $125,000 | 2025 | SUMMA HEALTH WEST TOWER |
| AKRON HISTORY CENTER | AKRON, OH | $40,000 | 2025 | THE RUBBER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD |
| ROTARY CAMP FOR CHILDREN | AKRON, OH | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 REG... |
| STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS | AKRON, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | STRATEGIC PLAN & OPERATIONAL FUNDING |
| THE VILLAGE OF ST EDWARD | FAIRLAWN, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | SPIRITUAL C... |
| ST MARY URBAN EDUCATION INITIATIVE | AKRON, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FUND |
| STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS | AKRON, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | GALA GRANT |
| TRULY REACHING YOU INC | AKRON, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | TRANSFORM... |
| LOYOLA RETREAT HOUSE | CLINTON, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | REPAIR AND RESTORATION |
| STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS | AKRON, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | REDESIGN |
| AKRON ZOOLOGICAL PARK | AKRON, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | SUMMER SAFARI |
| ST HILARY PARISH FOUNDATION | AKRON, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT FUND |
| EMBRACING FUTURES INC | AKRON, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | ORTHODONTIC CARE PROGRAM |
| AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | WARREN, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | BODY WORN |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | AKRON, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | DISASTER |
| UNITED DISABILITY SERVICES | AKRON, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | CONSOLIDATION OF FACILITIES |
| AKRON CANTON FOOD BANK | AKRON, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | DIRECT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM |
| THE WELL AKRON CDC | AKRON, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | MATURE TE... |
| ACCESS INC | AKRON, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | CONFERENCE ROOM FURNITURE |
| ART RESOURCES TRANSFORMATIONS | AKRON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | CURATED STOREFRONT |
| OUR LADY OF THE ELMS | AKRON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | FEBRUARY FANTASY SPONSORSHIP |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF SUMMIT COUNTY | TWINSBURG, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| COMMUNITY LEGAL AID | AKRON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | VETERANS LEGAL PROJECT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | AKRON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | ACTS OF COURAGE AKRON & UNRESTRICTED |
| AKRON ART MUSEUM | AKRON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | AUCTION & EXHIBITION FUNDING |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES AKRON | AKRON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | CAMPING SCAVENGER HUNT |
| AKRON AREA YMCA | AKRON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CARE & EDUCATION CENTERS |
| AXESSPOINTE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | AKRON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | PURCHASE |
| CASA BOARD VOLUNTEER ASSOC | AKRON, OH | $8,000 | 2025 | REDESIGN VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT |
| THE FIRST TEE OF GREATER AKRON | AKRON, OH | $8,000 | 2025 | SNAG |
| UNIVERSITY OF AKRON FOUNDATION | AKRON, OH | $8,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS, DONATION & ENDOWMENT |
| CHILD GUIDANCE & FAMILY SOLUTIONS | AKRON, OH | $7,500 | 2025 | THERAPEUTIC AID |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | AKRON, OH | $7,500 | 2025 | DONATION |
| BLUECOATS | AKRON, OH | $7,500 | 2025 | SPONSOR CHARITY GOLD CLASSIC |
| AKRON ZOO | AKRON, OH | $7,250 | 2025 | DONATION |
| EMBRACE CLINIC & CARE CENTER | BARBERTON, OH | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION & MARKETING |
| AKRON SOUL TRAIN | AKRON, OH | $7,000 | 2025 | ARTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM |
| AKRON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | AKRON, OH | $6,500 | 2025 | BRONZE SPONSOR |
| OPEN M | AKRON, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | FOOD PROGRAM |
| STEWART'S CARING PLACE | FAIRLAWN, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | BUTTERFLY GALA |
| AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | WARREN, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | WATER TAB |
| OHIO LIVING HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE | WESTERVILLE, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | TENDER MOMENTS PROGRAM |
| BATTERED WOMEN SHELTER AKRON | AKRON, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| AKRON 200 INC | AKRON, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | BICENTENNIAL FESTIVITIES |
| SAFETY FORCES SUPPORT CENTER | AKRON, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | HEALTH COUNSELING & STRESS MGT TRAIN |
| AKRON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | AKRON, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | AKRON, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | CORE YOUTH |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NORTHEAST OH | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS |
AKRON ART MUSEUM
$140,000CENTENNIAL
SUMMA HEALTH
$125,000SUMMA HEALTH WEST TOWER
AKRON HISTORY CENTER
$40,000THE RUBBER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
ROTARY CAMP FOR CHILDREN
$35,0002024 REG...
STRATEGIC PLAN & OPERATIONAL FUNDING
THE VILLAGE OF ST EDWARD
$25,000SPIRITUAL C...
ST MARY URBAN EDUCATION INITIATIVE
$25,000EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FUND
TRULY REACHING YOU INC
$25,000TRANSFORM...
LOYOLA RETREAT HOUSE
$25,000REPAIR AND RESTORATION
ST HILARY PARISH FOUNDATION
$20,000SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT FUND
EMBRACING FUTURES INC
$20,000ORTHODONTIC CARE PROGRAM
AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$20,000BODY WORN
UNITED DISABILITY SERVICES
$15,000CONSOLIDATION OF FACILITIES
AKRON CANTON FOOD BANK
$15,000DIRECT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
THE WELL AKRON CDC
$15,000MATURE TE...
OUR LADY OF THE ELMS
$10,000FEBRUARY FANTASY SPONSORSHIP
COMMUNITY LEGAL AID
$10,000VETERANS LEGAL PROJECT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$10,000ACTS OF COURAGE AKRON & UNRESTRICTED
AKRON ART MUSEUM
$10,000AUCTION & EXHIBITION FUNDING
CATHOLIC CHARITIES AKRON
$10,000CAMPING SCAVENGER HUNT
AKRON AREA YMCA
$10,000EARLY CARE & EDUCATION CENTERS
CASA BOARD VOLUNTEER ASSOC
$8,000REDESIGN VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
THE FIRST TEE OF GREATER AKRON
$8,000SNAG
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$7,500DONATION
BLUECOATS
$7,500SPONSOR CHARITY GOLD CLASSIC
AKRON ZOO
$7,250DONATION
EMBRACE CLINIC & CARE CENTER
$7,000EDUCATION & MARKETING
AKRON SOUL TRAIN
$7,000ARTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
OPEN M
$6,000FOOD PROGRAM
AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$5,000WATER TAB
OHIO LIVING HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE
$5,000TENDER MOMENTS PROGRAM
BATTERED WOMEN SHELTER AKRON
$5,000DONATION
AKRON 200 INC
$5,000BICENTENNIAL FESTIVITIES
SAFETY FORCES SUPPORT CENTER
$5,000HEALTH COUNSELING & STRESS MGT TRAIN
AKRON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$5,000EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
$5,000CORE YOUTH
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NORTHEAST OH
$5,000ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS