Action for Children
Action for Children is a public charity based in Columbus, Ohio, that supports children and families through early learning services, family support, and advocacy. The organization serves as the local child care resource and referral agency for seven central Ohio counties: Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Union.
Action for Children at a glance
In short: Action for Children gave $300K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Ohio. 60% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $300,000
- -91.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- -87.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,000
- -27.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,342,376
- -10.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (15 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Action for Children
- Contact
Mailing address: 1105 Schrock Rd Suite 125, Columbus, OH 43229
Phone: (614) 244-0222
Website: https://actionforchildren.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Action for Children funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was CDCFC North Linden Early Learning Center ($15K). Together the top 10 received $150K.
Grant Size Distribution
378 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 378 grants of 378 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Action for Children’s stated service area is central Ohio: Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Union counties. All grant dollars itemized for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Action for Children open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 25 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 24% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $282K (2022) to $3.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $300K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CDCFC North Linden Early Learning Center Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
| Driving Park Early Learning Center Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
| Fulbright Learning Center Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
| Future Scholars Learning Academy Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
| G Tyree Learning Center Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
| Little Miracles EDC Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
| NCBC Human Services Corp Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
| Pathway II Destiny Childcare Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
| Starting Point Learning Center Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
| Tender Years Learning Center Columbus, OH | Idea Incentive | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Action for Children?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports 25 grants; the 2024 and 2023 filings report 207 and 112 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,342,376 | $14,527,443 | $14,972,831 | $300,000 | 25 | $54,553 |
| 2024 | $5,979,337 | $18,674,824 | $19,180,093 | $3,415,500 | 207 | $18,062 |
| 2023 | $7,178,819 | $15,950,626 | $15,869,641 | $1,108,000 | 112 | $6,608 |
| 2022 | $4,675,038 | $6,344,885 | $6,095,536 | $282,363 | 34 | $2,642 |
| 2021 | $3,633,950 | $4,306,977 | $4,250,893 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $3,874,931 | $4,820,878 | $4,716,607 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Action for Children’s mission is “to transform the lives of children by supporting, empowering and advocating for the adults who make the biggest impact on children’s lives: their parents, caregivers and teachers.” Its website describes work that includes free child care referrals, parenting education, professional development and quality-improvement support for early childhood programs, and advocacy for accessible child care.
Its filing describes provider coaching and training, child care scholarships, family engagement and education, Help Me Grow connections, home visits, safe-sleep interactions, and background-check and fingerprinting services. The filing reports that child care scholarships are paid to providers on behalf of eligible children; these participant supports are distinct from grants to outside organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Action for Children reported 25 grants totaling $300,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $15,000, with a median of $10,000. The listed grants were for “IDEA INCENTIVE” and went to Ohio recipients.
Among the largest listed grants, ten Columbus-area learning centers and child care organizations each received $15,000, including NCBC Human Services Corporation. NCBC describes its own mission as focusing on youth, health, recreation, education, and technology to support positive achievement, family development, and economic growth. Alice D Jefferson in Canal Winchester and Blessed Assurance Childcare LLC in Groveport each received $10,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dr. Mary Kay Irwin as President and Matt Bell as Chair. Other listed trustees are Alex Anthony, Lynn Blashford, Becky Ciminillo, Joanne Goldhand, and Lisa Cochran, identified as Past-President. The filing also lists Eric Karolak as CEO to June 2025, Stephanie McFadden as Director of Finance, and Natalie Atkins as Director of Organizational Advancement.
Action for Children is led by Eric J. Karolak PhD, CEO to June since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eric J. Karolak PhD
CEO to June
CEO → CEO to June, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$135K (2020) → $162K (2025)
Tasha Booker
CEO Beginning January
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Kay Irwin
President
Vice President → President Elect, 2024
President Elect → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Bell
Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Natalie Atkins
Director of Org. Advancement
Director of Organizational Advancement → Director of Org. Advancement, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$101K (2024) → $105K (2025)
Stephanie McFadden
Director of Finance
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$107K (2025)
Becky Ciminillo
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Holly Stokes
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Blashford
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tamar Williamson
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alex Anthony
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joanne Goldhand
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Cochran
Past-President
President-Elect → President, 2022
President → Past-President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Becky Love
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jen Halas
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Sharp
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Matthew Bell (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Matthew Sharp (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Rebecca Love PhD (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Robert E. White II (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Ernest Sullivan (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jennifer Whitehurst (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Rebecca Ciminillo (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Ann Lockett (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Karen Betancourt (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Melissa Hammer (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Rochelle Wilkerson (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Dan Bauer (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Daniel M. Bauer (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Ernie Sullivan (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jen Whitehurst (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Carolyn Cullman Fulwider (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Laura Hult (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Muriel Tice (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Andrew Alderman (2020–2021) — Past President
- Former: Darlene Davis (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Diana Westhoff (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Stephanie Siddens (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Tameka Curry (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $162K, to Eric Karolak (CEO to June 2025). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Action for Children
How much does Action for Children give each year?
Action for Children gave $300K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.4M across 207 grants.
What is Action for Children's typical grant size?
Action for Children's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,000, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Action for Children that year got $13K on average.
Where does Action for Children give grants?
Action for Children gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (19 grants), Westerville, OH (3 grants) and Canal Winchester, OH (2 grants).
Does Action for Children give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Action for Children's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Idea Incentive" (25 grants).
Who are Action for Children's largest grantees?
Action for Children's largest 2025 grantees include CDCFC North Linden Early Learning Center ($15,000), Driving Park Early Learning Center ($15,000) and Fulbright Learning Center ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Action for Children?
Action for Children reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.5M.
What does Action for Children fund?
Action for Children’s mission is “to transform the lives of children by supporting, empowering and advocating for the adults who make the biggest impact on children’s lives: their parents, caregivers and teachers.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Action for Children?
Action for Children has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check actionforchildren.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Action for Children's EIN?
Action for Children's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-0820393. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Action for Children's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Action for Children funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/action-for-children-morg_3078f7efc7db49b1b76089dc1eb6d67a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_310820393_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Action for Children funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/action-for-children-morg_3078f7efc7db49b1b76089dc1eb6d67a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Action for Children's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Action for Children down — hundreds of funders to go?