Women’s Fund Announces $100,000 Child Care Grant

The Women’s Fund of Door County announced Monday that it received a third, $100,000 grant award from the Ford Foundation. The Women’s Fund of Door County will use the funds to create long-term solutions for the peninsula’s ongoing childcare shortage.

“The challenges associated with cost and availability of childcare will require unique problem-solving and collaboration and we are excited to continue the granting we have been doing over the past two years,” said Annika Paulsen, chair of the Childcare Committee for the Women’s Fund of Door County.

According to the United Way of Door County, the average cost of home- based childcare in Door County is $800 per child per month, while a childcare center costs $1,000 per child per month. As a result, a single income of $30,000 could use 40% of their income for the care of one child.

Of the approximate 1,000 children under the 5 years old in Door County, there are 288 spots available at a licensed or certified provider. Approximately 50 children receive care from family members, which leaves 662 children with childcare of an unknown quality.

Continuing the work started with previous Ford Foundation grant awards, the Women’s Fund will work with local experts and community partners to offer solutions to local  childcare needs. Current efforts include a co-funded community childcare coordinator position  at the United Way of Door County; certifying students in Red Cross babysitter training;  supporting local childcare centers; assisting in-home childcare providers; and partnering with  local businesses and governments to help offset the cost of childcare for employees. The goal is to increase the number of affordable childcare slots.

“The childcare shortage in Door County impacts every person,” Paulsen said. “The lack of  affordable and accessible childcare creates a major workforce shortage. It makes it challenging,  and for some families, impossible to live in Door County. We have a shortage of workers in  every area but especially in the healthcare and hospitality industries, which significantly rely on  female employees of childbearing and childrearing age.” 

According to the United Way of Door County, since the pandemic, the lack of affordable  childcare has resulted in a 6% increase in unemployment for women with children under the age  of six. With parents unable to work because of the lack of childcare, the childcare crisis costs  Door County taxpayers an estimated $9.48 million every year in lost earnings, productivity, and  revenue. 

“We know that the shortage of affordable and reliable childcare affects all communities,” said Hilary Pennington, Ford Foundation executive vice president of programs. “The Ford Foundation  is proud to partner with the Women’s Fund of Door County for a third year to address the  childcare needs in this unique community. Through the Women’s Fund of Door County’s  strategic and systematic approach, we are confident in their ability to build partnerships and  address childcare challenges in a meaningful and long-lasting way that will benefit both Door  County families and the broader community.” 

The Ford Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit grant-making organization with the stated goal of advancing human welfare. For more than 85 years it has worked with courageous  people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen  democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and  advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in  Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.