Our Story
The African-American Community Fund (AACF), a component fund of The Dayton Foundation, offers donors an opportunity to create a family legacy that will benefit the community for many generations.
Established in 1992 under the leadership of Dayton Foundation Emeritus Governing Board Member John E. Moore, Sr., and former member Lloyd E. Lewis, Jr., AACF is a national model for the promotion of philanthropy in the African-American community. Although AACF began in 1992, the first endowment gift by an African American to The Dayton Foundation was created by Moses Jones, Dayton's first black attorney in 1926. Although he has not been with us in sometime, his gift to the YMCA for African-Americans continues to help those in need.
The additional seed money for the African-American Community Fund was provided by a $50,000 grant of matching funds from The Dayton Foundation. Within the first year, more than $269,588 had been contributed by African-Americans themselves. First National Bank then agreed to match those donations up to a specific amount. As of fiscal year 2021-22, the African-American Fund has over 194 funds with an estimated value of $10 million. In addition, AACF since its inception has contributed $6.1 million to non-profits providing services within the African-American community of the Dayton/Greater Miami Valley region. What a wonderful testament to the many donors of the African-American Community Fund.
The African-American Community Fund includes a variety of current and deferred funds that support various needs within the community - religious, arts, social services, education, youth, and health and human services organizations. These funds will ensure that the current and future needs of our community are met.
As Lloyd Lewis stated about donors to the African-American Community Fund, "We are people from all over the map-churches, nonprofit organizations, and individuals. AACF is an idea whose time has come. I'm a believer that we African-Americans can do this ourselves."