The Foundation's primary interests are early care and education, school readiness, and advocacy.

In 2008, the Ohio Children's Foundation awarded $459,532 in grants.

The Foundation provided $299,032 in support of compelling programs for childen whose circumstances have made them vulnerable, at risk, or unlikely to receive services without our help.

Grants of $65,500 supported kindergarten-readiness initiatives throughout the state. In addition, the Foundation managed a program in which nearly 300 kindergarten staff visited the homes of 2,160 disadvantaged families in Franklin County school districts to prepare children for their kindergarten experience. The Foundation worked with other counties to make use of this model program. A book, You, Me and the ABCs, was developed as a tool to assist preschoolers in building pre-literacy skills.

The Foundation leverages its resources by supporting local, state, and national organizations which are working to create a public policy environment conducive to the long-term interests of children. This support included the provision of technical assistance, service on governing and advisory boards, and awards of $95,000 in grants.