To make high-quality child care available to residents of central Ohio and to support children, families, and child care providers through programs, advocacy and community engagement.
Action for Children’s recent grantmaking centers on child care operations in central Ohio, with incentives and reimbursements flowing directly to local providers. In the latest grants list, the largest award was $46,000 to Lil Rascals Learning Academy in Columbus for incentives, and another major grant went to My Little World Academy in Columbus for $43,750 the prior year. The pattern is practical and provider-facing: grants are tied to child care businesses, early learning programs, and staffing support rather than broad institutional philanthropy. That matches the foundation’s stated purpose of making high-quality child care available to residents of central Ohio and supporting children, families, and child care providers through programs, advocacy, and community engagement. The recent awards also show repeated support for Columbus-area centers such as Kings Kids Learning Center, Kids With Vision Learning Center, and Kiddycloud Childcare, alongside programs in nearby cities including Westerville, Newark, Dublin, Reynoldsburg, and Whitehall. The overall picture is a local funder built around child care access, provider capacity, and early childhood quality.
A major theme is workforce and business support for child care providers. Action for Children gave $38,500 to The Nest Schools Westerville Dempsey for incentives and $31,000 to Buckeye Childcare and Learning Solutions for incentives, showing direct support for provider operations and staffing. Another clear focus is early learning access through reimbursement and incentive structures. The foundation awarded $36,000 to Bright Beginnings Childcare Center and $22,000 to Little Explorers Academy, both listed under incentives, indicating recurring support for center-based capacity. Family child care is also a defined priority in the active programs: Family Child Care Reimbursement & Support Services includes licensing assistance, meal reimbursement, mentoring, and technical assistance for providers across Central Ohio counties. Franklin County RISE adds scholarships for parents and signing bonuses for early childhood educators, linking family affordability with workforce recruitment.
Typical grants cluster in a relatively narrow band: the 25th percentile is $7,250, the median is $10,500, and the 75th percentile is $21,000. Recent awards above that range appear to support incentives for providers, while the structured program descriptions point to direct reimbursements and bonus-style awards. The recent grants list shows repeated names across years only in a limited way, with several awards in 2024 and 2025 to the same broad child care ecosystem, but the named recipients in the table are mostly one-off entries. The foundation funds through programmatic, restricted support tied to child care services, and its active programs are open to unsolicited requests.
$3.4M
$6M
$18.7M
$19.2M
Most grants fall between $7K and $21K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$21K
ERIC J KAROLAK PHD
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Action for Children gives locally and exclusively in Ohio: 100% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Ohio is also the top state by grant count. The grants are concentrated in the Columbus metro, especially Columbus itself, with additional awards in Westerville, Newark, Dublin, Reynoldsburg, and Whitehall. The active program geography covers Central Ohio and Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Union counties, which matches the recipient locations in the recent grants list.
It funds child care and early childhood support in central Ohio. The foundation’s stated purpose is to make high-quality child care available and to support children, families, and child care providers through programs, advocacy, and community engagement. Its active programs focus on family child care support and Franklin County RISE incentives.
The grants are mostly incentives and reimbursement-style awards tied to child care operations. Recent awards include provider incentives, while the active programs describe direct reimbursements for meals, licensing assistance, mentoring, technical assistance, scholarships for parents, and signing bonuses for early childhood educators.
The grant-size distribution is relatively tight: the 25th percentile is $7,250, the median is $10,500, and the 75th percentile is $21,000. Recent awards can run higher for provider incentives, including several grants in the $30,000 to $46,000 range.
Yes. Both active programs listed, Family Child Care Reimbursement & Support Services and Franklin County RISE, accept unsolicited applications. Those programs are the clearest path shown in the data for providers and families seeking support.
It gives locally in Ohio, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent grants are concentrated in Columbus and nearby cities such as Westerville, Newark, Dublin, Reynoldsburg, and Whitehall, and the active program geography covers Central Ohio counties including Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Union.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIL RASCALS LEARNING ACADEMY | COLUMBUS, OH | $46,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| KINGS KIDS LEARNING CENTER - 409799 | COLUMBUS, OH | $42,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| MOMMY AND ME CHILDCARE - 2180019140 | COLUMBUS, OH | $42,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| KIDS WITH VISION LEARNING CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $41,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| KIDDYCLOUD CHILDCARE | COLUMBUS, OH | $39,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| BRIGHT BEGINNINGS CHILDCARE CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $36,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| MAYA LEARNING CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $36,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| LAITH'S LEARNING CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $36,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| BEYOND LEARNING CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $36,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| ANGEL ACADEMY AND LEARNING CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $32,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| JAMIE WADE DBA LAUGH N LEARN BABIES | COLUMBUS, OH | $32,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| JAMIE WADE DBA LAUGH N LEARN | COLUMBUS, OH | $31,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| BUCKEYE CHILDCARE AND LEARNING SOLUTIONS | COLUMBUS, OH | $31,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| START FRESH LEARNING ACADEMY | COLUMBUS, OH | $31,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| BABIES AND BEYOND CHILDCARE LEARNING CENTER LLC | COLUMBUS, OH | $31,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| THRIVE EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY LLC | COLUMBUS, OH | $27,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| GARDEN OF WONDERS LEARNING ACADEMY | DUBLIN, OH | $26,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YMCA WHITEHALL PRESCHOOL PLUS C RAY WILLIAMS EARLY CHILDH | WHITEHALL, OH | $26,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| NORTH BRANCH YMCA | COLUMBUS, OH | $26,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| GIGGLES AND GRINS | COLUMBUS, OH | $22,500 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| IN HIS CARE EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM | COLUMBUS, OH | $22,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| DAHIR ADEN DBA RISE UP DAYCARE & LEARNING CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $22,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YWCA KIDS PLACE AT MINERVA FRANCE | GAHANNA, OH | $22,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| MORNING STARS LEARNING CENTER 3 | COLUMBUS, OH | $22,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| STAR KIDS DAYCARE | WESTERVILLE, OH | $22,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY | COLUMBUS, OH | $22,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| MICHAELS LIL ANGEL LEARNING CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $22,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YOUNG SCHOLARS OF REYNOLDSBURG | REYNOLDSBURG, OH | $22,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| TEENY TOTS CHILD CARE LLC | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YWCA KIDS PLACE AT BLACKLICK ELEMENTARY | BLACKLICK, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| SUNNYSIDE DAYCARE | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| LITTLE INCREDIBLES EARLY LEARNING CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YWCA KIDS PLACE AT CHAPELFIELD ELEMENTARY | GAHANNA, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| RAINBOW2 CHILDCARE INC | WESTERVILLE, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| GAN EPHRAIM | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| HUMBLE BEGINNINGS CHILDCARE AND LEARNING CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| FUTURE LEADERS LEARNING ACADEMY | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YWCA KIDS PLACE AT MARK TWAIN | WESTERVILLE, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| LA PETITE ACADEMY - 2210025450 | NEW ALBANY, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| LITTLE GEMS LEARNING PLACE | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YWCA KIDS PLACE AT HAWTHORNE | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| KIDS WORLD CDC INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YWCA KIDS PLACE AT ROYAL MANOR ELEMENTARY | GAHANNA, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| TEACH & LEARN CHILDCARE | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| NEW DIMENSIONS CHILD CARE CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YWCA KIDS PLACE AT JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY | GAHANNA, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| PEACOX CHILD CARE II | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| BRIGHT HORIZONS AT CAPITAL CITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| ONE FAMILY CHILDCARE CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
| YWCA KIDS PLACE AT WHITTIER | WESTERVILLE, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | INCENTIVES |
LIL RASCALS LEARNING ACADEMY
$46,000INCENTIVES
KINGS KIDS LEARNING CENTER - 409799
$42,000INCENTIVES
MOMMY AND ME CHILDCARE - 2180019140
$42,000INCENTIVES
KIDS WITH VISION LEARNING CENTER
$41,000INCENTIVES
KIDDYCLOUD CHILDCARE
$39,000INCENTIVES
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS CHILDCARE CENTER
$36,000INCENTIVES
MAYA LEARNING CENTER
INCENTIVES
LAITH'S LEARNING CENTER
$36,000INCENTIVES
BEYOND LEARNING CENTER
$36,000INCENTIVES
ANGEL ACADEMY AND LEARNING CENTER
$32,000INCENTIVES
JAMIE WADE DBA LAUGH N LEARN BABIES
$32,000INCENTIVES
JAMIE WADE DBA LAUGH N LEARN
$31,000INCENTIVES
BUCKEYE CHILDCARE AND LEARNING SOLUTIONS
$31,000INCENTIVES
START FRESH LEARNING ACADEMY
$31,000INCENTIVES
BABIES AND BEYOND CHILDCARE LEARNING CENTER LLC
$31,000INCENTIVES
THRIVE EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY LLC
$27,000INCENTIVES
GARDEN OF WONDERS LEARNING ACADEMY
$26,000INCENTIVES
YMCA WHITEHALL PRESCHOOL PLUS C RAY WILLIAMS EARLY CHILDH
$26,000INCENTIVES
NORTH BRANCH YMCA
$26,000INCENTIVES
GIGGLES AND GRINS
$22,500INCENTIVES
IN HIS CARE EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM
$22,000INCENTIVES
DAHIR ADEN DBA RISE UP DAYCARE & LEARNING CENTER
$22,000INCENTIVES
YWCA KIDS PLACE AT MINERVA FRANCE
$22,000INCENTIVES
MORNING STARS LEARNING CENTER 3
$22,000INCENTIVES
STAR KIDS DAYCARE
$22,000INCENTIVES
LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY
$22,000INCENTIVES
MICHAELS LIL ANGEL LEARNING CENTER
$22,000INCENTIVES
YOUNG SCHOLARS OF REYNOLDSBURG
$22,000INCENTIVES
TEENY TOTS CHILD CARE LLC
$21,000INCENTIVES
YWCA KIDS PLACE AT BLACKLICK ELEMENTARY
$21,000INCENTIVES
SUNNYSIDE DAYCARE
$21,000INCENTIVES
LITTLE INCREDIBLES EARLY LEARNING CENTER
$21,000INCENTIVES
YWCA KIDS PLACE AT CHAPELFIELD ELEMENTARY
$21,000INCENTIVES
RAINBOW2 CHILDCARE INC
$21,000INCENTIVES
GAN EPHRAIM
$21,000INCENTIVES
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS CHILDCARE AND LEARNING CENTER
$21,000INCENTIVES
FUTURE LEADERS LEARNING ACADEMY
$21,000INCENTIVES
YWCA KIDS PLACE AT MARK TWAIN
$21,000INCENTIVES
LA PETITE ACADEMY - 2210025450
$21,000INCENTIVES
LITTLE GEMS LEARNING PLACE
$21,000INCENTIVES
YWCA KIDS PLACE AT HAWTHORNE
$21,000INCENTIVES
KIDS WORLD CDC INC
$21,000INCENTIVES
YWCA KIDS PLACE AT ROYAL MANOR ELEMENTARY
$21,000INCENTIVES
TEACH & LEARN CHILDCARE
$21,000INCENTIVES
NEW DIMENSIONS CHILD CARE CENTER
$21,000INCENTIVES
YWCA KIDS PLACE AT JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY
$21,000INCENTIVES
PEACOX CHILD CARE II
$21,000INCENTIVES
BRIGHT HORIZONS AT CAPITAL CITY
$21,000INCENTIVES
ONE FAMILY CHILDCARE CENTER
$21,000INCENTIVES
YWCA KIDS PLACE AT WHITTIER
$21,000INCENTIVES
Current and upcoming funding from Action for Children that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Serves families, early childhood educators, and child care programs in central Ohio counties served by Action for Children; select programs are also available in Knox, Marion, and Morrow counties.
Who can apply: Family child care providers operating in the Action for Children service area; eligibility and reimbursement rates detailed on program pages.
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