Business Innovation in Child Care Spotlight: Ashland County Foundation Women's Fund

Groundwork Ohio, in partnership with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, has released a new resource, Business Innovation in Child Care: Case Studies Across Ohio, highlighting how businesses across the state are advancing child care solutions for their employees and communities. In the weeks ahead, we’ll be spotlighting these efforts—sharing real examples of how employers are stepping up to support working families and strengthen Ohio’s workforce and economy.

The Ashland County Foundation Women’s Fund is a community-driven initiative dedicated to supporting and empowering women across Ashland County. Established in 2004, the fund brings together local women to invest in solutions that strengthen opportunities for women and families—through grantmaking, scholarships, and targeted initiatives, including efforts to expand access to child care.

That commitment to addressing community needs led the Women’s Fund to take a closer look at child care access in Ashland County—ultimately resulting in a bold, data-driven effort to expand care for working families.

This finding led to a needs assessment that identified only 82 licensed infant and toddler spaces in Ashland County and no licensed child care past 6 pm.

The data made clear that the community had significant gaps in child care access—especially for infants and toddlers and for families needing care during non-traditional hours.

In response, Women’s Fund leaders launched a campaign in April 2021 to raise $4.5 million to build a child care center at the Ashland Business Park, home to nearly 30 companies that collectively employ 1,200 full-time employees. In November 2021, a real estate developer donated three acres at the park for the center. In April 2022, a non-profit organization was created to operate it, and the center opened in June 2024.

The Women’s Fund ultimately raised $4.8 million—$300,000 more than its original goal—to build the Foundations Community Childcare center and establish a $1 million endowment to help ensure the center’s sustainability.

The fund received more than 300 donations, including a $1 million commitment from an Ashland area couple and $500,000 from the Ashland County Board of Commissioners.

While the child care center is independently operated, it must have representation from the Women’s Fund on its board in perpetuity to help ensure community input. The original Women’s Fund also continues its work, maintaining an $800,000 endowment from which it makes small annual grants to area non-profits and awards scholarships to women.