Community foundations are uniquely positioned to strengthen access to high-quality child care in the communities they serve. Through their ability to act as grantmakers, conveners, advocates, and partners, community foundations can help build the relationships, resources, and strategies needed to support children, families, and local economies. This roadmap is designed to help community foundations better understand the various roles they can play in addressing child care challenges and identify practical opportunities for engagement. Recognizing that every community has its own strengths, needs, and assets, the roadmap offers adaptable approaches rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. Whether exploring child care as a new area of investment or looking to deepen existing efforts, community foundations can use this resource to spark ideas, strengthen partnerships, and advance meaningful local solutions.
Thank you to Southwest Michigan's (Region 8) community foundations for sharing their experiences and insights to help shape this roadmap. Their leadership and examples provide valuable lessons and inspiration for others seeking to support child care in their communities.
Six Strategies for Community Foundations
Community foundations can draw on a range
of strategies to respond to local child care needs:
Community Leadership
Participating in and convening cross-sector collaboration to drive change.
Foundation-Directed Grantmaking
Awarding discretionary funds to child care focused projects, programs, and capacity building.
Donor-Directed Grantmaking
Bringing a child care lens to your donor advised funds, scholarships, and desginated endowment funds.
Attracting Outside Capital
Drawing more public and private resources to support your community's child care system.
Advocacy, Education, and Awareness
Increasing understanding of local child care needs and the role of public policy.
Impact Investing
Identifying child care opportunities with social and financial returns to make your dollars go further
Strategies in Action
Region 8 Community Foundations put these strategies into action
Understanding Your Local Landscape
-
What local data exists on child care needs in your community?
-
What kind of communities are you serving?
-
What mix of child care providers does your community have?
-
What intermediary organizations or collaborative groups are serving the child care sector in your community?
-
Who are your local employers?
-
What units of local government exist in your service area?
-
What other local funders exist in your service area?
-
What percentage of overall assets are in unrestricted or field of interest funds?
-
Does your community foundation have previous experience in proactively identifying and focusing your efforts on an issue?
-
Do you have donors who are already interested in child care?
-
Have you done impact investing before?
Understanding Your Community Foundation's Toolbox
Elevating Child Care as a Strategic Priority
Community foundations have elevated child care as a priority by:
-
Responding to community voice
-
Leveraging data and assessments
-
Embedding child care into strategic plans
-
Building internal alignment
-
Engaging providers and stakeholders
-
Connecting to regional efforts or peer learning opportunities
Champions can include:
-
Regional Child Care Coalitions
-
Local government leaders and staff
-
Employers and business leaders
-
Donors
-
Community partners and intermediaries
-
Child care providers
-
Trusted community voices
