MessagefromOurCEO
DearFriends,
AsIreflectonallthatwasaccomplishedin2025attheWomen’sFund ofCentralOhio,Ifeelincrediblyproud.Together,wereleasedour sixthmajorresearchreport,awardedthelargestgrantinourhistory, successfullyreimaginedourlongstandingKeyholdereventwithanew speakermodel,andmademeaningfulprogresstowardpaidleave throughourworkwiththeTimetoCareCoalition.Noneofthiswould havebeenpossiblewithoutyou ourdedicatedcommunityof supporters—whoinvestinthisworkandhelpmakeCentralOhioa moreequitableplaceforwomenandgirls.
Andyet,evenwiththisprogress,significantchallengesremain.We continuetofacelegislativeattacksonwomen,diminishingeconomic resources,andpersistentbarrierstoequity.Attimes,theworkcan feelexhausting,butonethingisclear:wecannotandwillnotstop.
Lookingahead,aswecelebrate25yearsoftheWomen’sFundin 2026,wehavebeenintentionalinpositioningourselvesforthefuture Thisyear,wemovedtoanewofficeinGrandviewHeights,creating morevisiblehomewherewecangatherandengagewithour community.Werefreshedourbrandtobetterreflecttheenergyand vibrancyofourwork.Wealsowelcomedthreenewteammembers andbeganastrategicplanningprocessthatwillbeginguidingus throughthenext25years.
Our15Founderssetthefoundationforwherewearetoday.It’supto allofustocarrythatlegacyforwardandkeepthatmomentum going.Tobeaforceforthefutureasagentsofchange.Weare deeplygratefultohaveyouwithusinthiswork
Thankyouforbeingaforce alongsideus.
KelleyGriesmer President&CEO
ScantheQRcodeorvisit youtube.com/wfcentralohiotowatch our25thanniversaryvideo.
Ournewofficeislocatedat831GoodaleBlvdinGrandviewHeights.
2025GrantmakingbytheNumbers
$716,000
25,918 womenandgirls served.
ofGrantPartnerprograms receivedaWFCOgrant forthefirsttime. ingrantfunding awarded.
AnnualGrantPartners
ACLUofOhioFoundation
ARCHReentry
BeautifullyFlawed
BlackWomeninNature
BOLDGirlCollective
CentralOhioWorkerCenter
EducationFoundationforFreedom
EmpoweringLatinasLeadership Academy(ELLA)
EPICYouth
EqualityOhioEducationFund Femergy
GirlsL.E.A.P.
JustChoice
NewDirectionsCareerCenter
PerScholasColumbus
PlannedParenthoodofGreaterOhio
PolicyMattersOhio
ProyectoMariposas
ThriveIN
ofGrantPartnersserved womeninallseven CentralOhiocounties.
Women’sFundofCentralOhioGrantPartnersalign withatleastoneofourfivepriorityareas, addressingtheneedswomenandgirlsfacefrom multipleangles.Thebreakdownoforganizations fundedin2025bypriorityareaisasfollows:
WealthBuilding&CareerAdvancement
Health&HealthEducation
Leadership&Empowerment
CivicEngagement&MovementBuilding
SocialSafetyNet&CareEconomy
GrantPartnerImpactStories
BeautifullyFlawedempowerswomenand girlsthroughmentalhealtheducationwith resourcessuchasself-careandresiliencyskills. Studentscompleted59servicehoursandleda school-widecampaign,reportingincreased confidenceinnavigatingmentalhealth challenges.Parentsalsogainedstrategiesto managetheirownmentalhealthchallenges. FundingfromtheWomen’sFundhelpedbuilda networkof20partners,enablingtheprogram todeliverhigh-quality,impactfulservices despitealeadershiptransitionanda challengingpoliticallandscape.
BlackWomeninNaturelaunchedapilot cohort,BlackGirlBelong,with11participants, designedtoincreaseBlackwomen’ssafety, belonging,andconfidenceinoutdoorspaces whiledeepeningenvironmentalandclimate justiceknowledge.Theprogramcenterson community,connection,andleadership development,helpingparticipantsbuildskills andimprovewell-being.Supportfromthe Women’sFundstrengthenedorganizational capacity,reducingburnoutandprovidingthe flexibilityandresourcesneededtodeliverthe program.
NewDirectionsCareerCenter’sLEAD programexpandedleadershipskillsand increasedrepresentationofmarginalized womenonnonprofitboards.In2025,17 programgraduatesadvancedthroughboard placementsorcareergrowth.Manyofthe graduatesjoinednonprofitandcivic organizations,enteredexecutiveroles,and onepublishedabook.TheLEADSymposium trained22womeninadvocacy,networking, andgovernance.Women’sFundgrant supportstrengthenedprogrammingandwill expandongoingprofessionaldevelopment.
“Asgrantreaders,wegettodirectlyparticipatein shapingourcommunity,reviewingthemanyways localorganizationsareworkingtoaddressthe needsofourpeople.”
TheWomen’sFundincorporatespracticesfrombothtrust-basedphilanthropyandparticipatorygrantmakingframeworksto makeourprocessasequitableandeffectiveaspossible.WebringtogetherhundredsoftrainedGrantReadersonCommunity GrantReviewDaytoreviewandscorealleligiblegrantapplications.Learnmoreatwomensfundcentralohio.org/grant-reading.
ClosingGaps, OpeningFutures
“TheWomen’sFundwasthefirstorganizationthatbelievedinus,” sharedGirlsL.E.A.P.FounderGabrielaEdon.Asafunder,theWomen's FundofCentralOhiowantsallourGrantPartnerstofeelseen,heard, andtrusted.Yet,toomanyleaderslikeGabriela,whoarebest positionedtodesigntransformativesolutionsfortheircommunities, facebarrierstosecuringthefundingneededtobringthosesolutionsto life.
“IwantedtocreateasafespacethatIoncedidnothaveasan immigrantstudent,”Gabrielasaid.“Iknowhowitfeelstohavethat spaceandpeoplewhobelieveinyouandtrulycareaboutyourwellbeing.”ThatvisionledtothefoundingofGirlsL.E.A.P.
Thenonprofitisdedicatedtoeducating,inspiring,andempowering girls,primarilyfromimmigrantcommunities,fromfifthgradethrough highschool,byfosteringstrongfamilypartnershipsandbuildinga communityofsisterhood.Itsprogramsintegratementoring,financial literacy,andSTEAMeducation,equippingparticipantswithboth practicalskillsandpersonalconfidence.Buttheimpactgoesbeyond curriculum.ThroughGirlsL.E.A.P.,girlsbuildself-worth,findhope,and developthecouragetolead.
In2025,theWomen’sFund affirmedGabriela’svisionby investing$50,000inGirls
L.E.A.P.throughourEnduring ProgressInitiative.Thisinitiative helpsclosefundinggapsby investingunrestrictedresources inorganizationsledbyandfor womenandgirlsofcolor, supportingleadershipgrowth andorganizationalcapacity.
“Istronglybelieveifyouinvestinwomenandgirls,youcanchangethe world,”saidGabriela.Visitwomensfundcentralohio.org/enduringprogressformoreinformationabouttheEnduringProgressInitiative.
WhatWealthReallyMeanstoWomen BeyondMoney:
Whatdoesitmeantofeelwealthy?It’sabigquestionwithmany answers.In2019,wesharedoriginalresearchonthewealthgap womenface.Thisyear,wecontinuedtobuildonthatpriorresearch. Tolearnmore,weaskedover3,000womeninCentralOhiowhat wouldhelpthemfeelwealthy.
Theirresponseswerethoughtfulandsometimessurprising.Manysaid theywantjobswheretheyarerespected.Womenwanttheabilityto saveforthefuture.Welearnedthatwealthisn’tonlyaboutmoney.It’s alsoabouthavingthefreedomtodecidehowtospendyourtime.
WepartneredwithTheCenterforCommunitySolutionstocreatea newreportbasedonthisresearch.InMarch2025,wereleased “MakingWomenWealthyandFree.”ThisistheWomen’sFund’ssixth originalresearchreport.Theresearchshowedthatfeelingwealthy meanshavingbothfinancialstabilityandthefreedomtomake choicesaboutone'stimeandwork.
ThisprojectwasmadepossiblewithsupportfromJPMorganChase, HuntingtonNationalBank,TheColumbusFoundation,andgenerous donorslikeyou.
Tolaunchthereport,wehostedaforumattheColumbus MetropolitanClub.Ourteamalsomadeappearancesonlocalnews, sharingourfindings.However,releasingthereportwasjustthe beginning.Throughout2025,theWomen’sFundcontinuedtoeducate ourcommunityontheissuesthatwomenshared.Wealsoinvestedin programsthatworktoremovethebarriersoutlinedinthereportand advocatedfornewpoliciestosupportwomen.
Readontolearnabouttheimpactofthisimportantresearch.
BuildingWealthThrough ChildCare
"MakingWomenWealthyandFree” providedastrongfoundationfortailoring ourfuturegrantmaking.Ourresearch identifiedthattheaffordabilityand accessibilityofchildcarearesignificant barrierstowealthbuilding.Helpingworkers earnmoreisonesolution.Wealso discoveredthatformingpartnershipsto collaborateandbuildbettercareerpathsin earlycareandeducationcanreducethese barriers.
TheWomen'sFundcollaboratedwith ActionforChildren,CentralOhio'sChild CareResourceandReferralAgency,to breakdownthisbarrier.Byexpandingits ChildDevelopmentAssociate(CDA) certificationprogram,ActionforChildren aimstostrengthentheearlychildhood educationworkforceandstimulatethelocal economybyimprovingaccessto affordable,high-qualitychildcare.
ActionforChildrenreceivedourlargest granttodate,$265,000.Withthefunding, theywereabletobuySpanish-language coursematerialsandofferscholarshipsto coverthe$1,350costoftheir135-hour programforqualifyingSpanish-speaking participants.Thefundingalsosupported scholarshipsandprogrammingfortheir currentCDAcoursesinEnglish,includinga tailoredprogramforpre-licensedfamily childcareproviders.
“Oneoftheguidingprinciples ofthisresearchwasto prioritizewomen’svoices andbelievewhattheyhave totellyou.”
AlexDorman,
ResearchFellow TheCenterforCommunitySolutions
Inoursurveyofmorethan3,000women, morethanhalfreportthatnothavingfamily leaveisabarriertobuildingtheirwealth, with16percentidentifyingitasaserious issue.Withoutaccesstopaidleave,many women,especiallycaregiversandworking mothers,mustchoosebetweenkeeping theirincomeandattendingtotheirfamily’s needs.Inadditiontoinforminggrants,our researchalsoinformsouradvocacyefforts.
In2025,theWomen’sFundmaintainedits partnershipwithCollaborateCleveland, alongwithacoalitionofadvocates, communityorganizations,andbusinesses. Together,wehelpedestablishTimetoCare Ohio,amovementfocusedonpromoting paidleaveinOhio.Wecontinuedtogather informationaboutthecostsandbenefitsof astatewidepaidleaveprogram,potential advocacystrategies,andthestakeholders whoneededtobeinvolved.
Bytheendoftheyear,TimetoCarehad createdaninitialplanforpaidleave legislationandsoughtbipartisansupport fromelectedofficialsinOhio.Theplan includedprovisionsforfamilycaregiving leave,parentalleaveforbirth,adoption, andfosterplacement,aswellaspersonal medicalleave.Withresearchasour foundationandasolidplaninplace,Timeto Carecontinuestoadvanceanambitious agendaforamoreequitableeconomy,a resilientworkforce,andastrongerOhio.
Bylisteningtowomen’svoices,investingininnovativesolutions,andpartneringforpolicychange,wearelayingthegroundworkforafuturewhere allwomencanthrive.Ourprogressisonlypossiblethroughcollaboration,continuedlearning,andtheunwaveringsupportofourcommunity. Together,wearecreatingabetterworldwherewomenhaveunlimitedopportunitiestolivewealthyandfreelives.
Giving+Financials
ScantheQRcodeorvisit
youtube.com/wfcentralohio towatchtherecordedtalks.
KeyholderSuccessandthePowerofthePivot
WeintroducedanewKeyholderformatwithlive,TEDx-style talksbywomenfromCentralOhio.Eachspeakerexploredthe sametheme:thepowerofthepivot.Howdidtheseleaderspivot whenfacedwithchallenges?
Weknowmakingchangeisn’teasy,andthebarriersarehigh. Realchangecanhappenwhenpeopleworktogethertomakeita reality.That’swhywefeaturedlocalleaders.Theirstories remindusofthefuturethatispossibleifwetakeaction.Youcan watchalltheKeyholder2025(and2026)talksonYouTube!
Keyholderismorethanjustsharingstoriesofchange.The moneyraisedatthiseventhelpswomenandgirlsinour communityyear-round.Yoursupport throughsponsorships, tickets,anddonations fundsresearch,grants,andadvocacy. Becauseofgenerousdonorslikeyou,weraisedover$375,000 forwomenandgirlsinCentralOhio.
In2025,yourgenerosityhelpedthousandsofwomenandgirlsacross CentralOhio.Thankyou!SpecialthankstoourImpactInvestors, HuntingtonNationalBankandTheColumbusFoundation.Thework doesnotstop,andneithercanwe.Pleaseconsidermakingagiftnow tocontinueyourcommitmenttowomenandgirls.
Scantomakeagiftorvisit womensfundcentralohio.org/donate.
Scantoviewthe 2025donorlist.
FY25reflectsJuly1,2024toJune30,2025auditedfinancials. Visitwomensfundcentralohio.org/financialsforcomplete auditedfinancialstatements.
831GoodaleBlvd
GrandviewHeights,OH43212
Coverphotocredit:EmmaParkerPhotography
OurBoard
Dr.SierraAustin-King,TheOhioStateUniversity
LachandraBaker,LBBEdutainmentLLC
JenniferBattle,CarpenterLippsLLP
AbbyCover,ColumbusMetropolitanLibrary
JacquelineDees,Deloitte
SueFrost,Mid-OhioFoodCollective
JenniferGoettemoeller,AmericanElectricPower
ClaudiaHerrington,JobsOhio
GraceHunter,ParacletePlanningLLC
SusanKrohne,M/IHomes,Inc.
LeahMcDougald,ZoCoDesign
DaphneMcKinnie,HuntingtonNationalBank
KristenMoosmiller,NorthAvenueFinancialAdvocates
ChristineMurry,CraneGroupCo.
MelindaNenning,HamiltonInsuranceGroup
LethaPugh,BakeMeHappy
DanaSims,VOICEcorps
ShakarraTouray,Nationwide
HeatherWhaling,GebenCommunication
OurStaff
JennaFlugum,MarketingandCommunicationsManager
KelleyGriesmer,PresidentandCEO
DrewKaufman,DirectorofFundraising
SierraMollenkopf,DevelopmentManager
ArielleScott,ProgramsManager
womensfundcentralohio.org|614-225-9926
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