John Garofalo
Bachelor of Arts in Health Education, '87
Master of Education in Community Health Education, '93
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 420 funds. The foundation, including donor-advised funds, has awarded over $110 million since the organization’s founding.
Garofalo 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. He currently serves as immediate past president of the Kent State University National Alumni Association, where his daughter is a sophomore. He also serves on the Social Services Advisory Board in Summit County as well as Past President’s Council for the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
A native of Painesville, Ohio, John lives in Sagamore Hills.