Breaking Barriers: How Women in Central Ohio Can Build Wealth and Thrive
- Groundwork Ohio
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
By Maddie McClung, Research and Advocacy Manager, The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio
Reach Maddie at mmcclung@womensfundcentralohio.org.
The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio’s most recent research report, Making Women Wealthy and Free, outlines what over 3,000 Central Ohio women shared about their experience with building wealth. The report is a roadmap for what our community can do to address the barriers that prevent women from building wealth and having the freedom to make their own decisions about their lives.
Moving beyond survival and stability and toward a life of financial abundance is not just about money or income. It is about creating a life with greater autonomy, opportunity, and purpose.
At The Women’s Fund, we wanted to have a report that outlines the factors that lead women in Central Ohio to build wealth, the conditions that prevent wealth building, and the results of having wealth.
Our latest research does not prescribe exact pathways of how to make women feel like they are thriving or how to be financially abundant. It highlights how key outcomes are deeply interconnected. Belief in ability to build wealth differs by levels of thriving, which is correlated with the psychological relationship to financial scarcity, which is correlated to invisible emotional load. This research demonstrates that outcomes are worst for women who are surviving, significantly better for women who are stable, and consistently best for women who are financially abundant.
Ability to build wealth among women in Central Ohio is shaped by financial education, stable employment, supportive networks, and access to essential financial tools.
Employment plays a critical role in wealth building, but job quality is more important than mere employment status.
High quality jobs provide both income and support. This research confirms that many women carry a mental load of household and family responsibilities throughout their day including at work.
Women in financially unstable situations often work multiple jobs, but these roles tend to be precarious. Structural inequities in wages, hiring, and workplace support make financial security out of reach for many women.
Policies supporting stable employment, childcare assistance, and income growth— such as childcare tax credits and increased wages—are essential to improving financial security for women in the region.
Women who achieve financial abundance are more likely to have had mentors or parental guidance on money management during their youth. Over eighty percent of financially abundant women reported having a trusted person for financial guidance, compared to just over fifty percent of those in financially precarious situations.
Access to stabilizing resources enables women to make thoughtful financial decisions instead of operating in crisis mode.
Women who feel a sense of belonging in their communities are more financially stable, emphasizing the importance of social and professional networks in wealth building.
When women have wealth, our entire community benefits. Our goal is to create a coalition of public, private, and nonprofit partners committed to investing in equitable, sustainable solutions to the issues women face. Together, we can support women and create lasting growth and progress for Central Ohio as a whole.
The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio presents Keyholder
Keyholder is a night of inspiration hosted by The Women’s Fund to raise funds for Central Ohio women and girls. On this year’s stage, a diverse group of local changemakers will share powerful TED-style talks about their experiences with innovation, resilience, and action.
Why are we focusing on local voices? Because we know that women with the power to create change live and work right here in Central Ohio. Your generous support of Keyholder fuels our mission to transform the lives of women and girls year-round.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
6:30 pm
Palace Theatre
Maddie McClung is a passionate advocacy and research professional with experience in politics, the nonprofit space, and academia. She has worked at The Women’s Fund for two years and also lectures at Ohio State University. Maddie spent more than a year shepherding this research project to completion with the rest of the WFCO team and the Center for Community Solutions and is so excited it’s out in the world.
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