At the Community Foundation, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive—and that starts with access to high-quality early care and education. While our Lifelong Learning pillar initially set out to explore Universal Pre-K, we quickly realized that conversations in our community—and across the state—are centered on childcare. We see these as one and the same: childcare is early education.
Recognizing this gap, we began seeking ways to contribute meaningfully to the movement. That led us to Hoosier Milestones, a growing grassroots advocacy organization working to shape state policy for childcare and early learning. Alison Gerardot, our Chief Impact Officer, now serves on their board, and we are proud to support their efforts to ensure that all families have access to affordable, high-quality care.
We are also proud to partner with the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition (NEIECC)—a collaborative of local stakeholders working to improve early childhood outcomes in our region. NEIECC plays a vital role in convening local providers, employers, and advocates, helping to align on-the-ground efforts with broader policy and funding opportunities. Together, we are working across systems to make sure solutions are both practical and scalable.
To deepen this impact, we are also supporting the work of Policy Equity Group, a national partner collaborating with Hoosier Milestones to educate legislators and advocate for smarter, more inclusive policies for Indiana’s youngest learners.
This work comes at a critical time. At the beginning of the 2025 legislative session, Indiana Senate Democrats prioritized child care in their policy agenda, aiming to fully fund the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF)—a vital subsidy program that helps low-income families afford care. However, that goal remained unmet as the session ended on April 24. This underscores just how important continued education, advocacy, and community involvement are in driving real change.
Why This Matters
Child care policy affects far more than families—it impacts our economy, workforce, and long-term educational outcomes. A 2024 study by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce found that over half of Hoosier parents miss work or class because they cannot find child care. That absenteeism and employee turnover costs Hoosier employers an estimated $3.05 billion every year.
Meanwhile, for Indiana’s more than 850,000 children under age 9, only 763 licensed child care centers exist to care for them while parents work or attend school. Unsurprisingly, a CNBC study recently ranked Indiana at the bottom nationally for quality of life—with the worst access to child care in the country.
The Role of Philanthropy and Policy
We know that solving this crisis will take more than expanding facilities—it requires system-level change. That’s why we’re committed to funding not just local solutions but also broader policy advocacy. By investing in organizations like Hoosier Milestones, Policy Equity Group, and collaborating with partners like NEIECC, we’re helping build momentum toward statewide improvements that benefit families across all income levels.
How You Can Engage
This effort is still emerging, but the vision is bold: a future where every child enters kindergarten ready to learn and every family has access to the care they need to thrive. If you’re interested in learning more about our work in this space or helping move it forward, we’d love to hear from you.