The Foundry Christian Community Center Inc

What The Foundry Christian Community Center Inc does

The Foundry Christian Community Center Inc is a Kentucky-incorporated non-profit Christian community center headquartered in the West End of Bowling Green at 531 W. 11th Avenue, established in 2010 when the South Central District of the United Methodist Church purchased the former Boys and Girls Club building. The organization operates an 8-acre campus that includes preschool classrooms, a gymnasium, 5-rated outdoor playgrounds, community garden plots, and a soccer field built by the City of Bowling Green on leased property. Programs are delivered at no charge to families and target low-income children and households in the surrounding neighborhood, with revenue sourced entirely from donations, grants, government subsidies, and community-affiliate programs rather than user fees.

The core product portfolio centers on early childhood and out-of-school education: a Kentucky All STARS 5 STAR-rated Preschool Academy for three- and four-year-olds (launched Fall 2015, 1:6 teacher-to-student ratio), a 5 STAR-rated After School Academy for K-5th grade operating Monday through Thursday with homework help, reading support, and a meal, a five-week Summer Enrichment Camp, and a Community Gardens Program with active gardening and canning classes. Complementary offerings include the 2021-launched Healthy Foundry Initiative (vision, dental, hearing, wellness, and mental health screenings plus fitness and nutrition programming, funded by the Good Samaritans Grant) and limited gym rental for community events. The preschool model is evidence-based and has produced kindergarten readiness scores in the 70th to 90th percentiles among participating children, against a Kentucky state average of 51%.

The organization reaches families through direct on-site service delivery at its single facility, supplemented by partnerships with Dishman-McGinness Elementary, Parker Bennett Curry Elementary, Warren County Public Schools, Bowling Green City Schools, and the Gatton Academy of WKU. Revenue mechanics rely on monthly individual donors ($30–$100 tiers via Zeffy), foundation grants (Good Samaritan Foundation, United Way, The Community Foundation), Kentucky state subsidies for All STARS-rated programs, and Kroger Community Rewards. The Foundry is governed by an independent Board of Directors and led by an Executive Director supported by directors of Education, Finance, Afterschool, and Office and Facilities — reflecting an 11–50 employee operation focused on community-embedded, donor-funded service delivery rather than commercial expansion.

Name

The Foundry Christian Community Center Inc

Legal name

The Foundry Christian Community Center

Website

https://thefoundrybg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Foundry Christian Community Center Inc is a non-profit Christian community center in Bowling Green, Kentucky that delivers free preschool, after-school, summer enrichment, community garden, and health/wellness programs to low-income children and families in the West End.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Family Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (6244), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enrichment-Focused Before/After Care (Arts, STEM, Language) (EDACAHAI), Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Community health programs
• After-school childcare
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Community garden programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bowling Green

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions: The organization relies heavily on individual donor contributions through monthly giving programs ranging from $30 to $100 per month, one-time donations, and major gifts. Donors can give online through the Zeffy platform or by mail.
2. Grant Funding: Receives grant funding from organizations including the Good Samaritans Grant for the Healthy Foundry Initiative, and other foundation grants. The Good Samaritan Foundation supports the bridge to the health and wellness program.
3. Government Subsidies: Receives government subsidies as part of the funding model for early childhood education programs. Operates under Kentucky All STARS licensing system.
4. Kroger Community Rewards: Participates in Kroger Community Rewards program where Kroger donates a percentage of purchases when customers select The Foundry as their organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Foundry Christian Community Center provides free, faith-based early childhood education (Preschool Academy for ages 3-4), after-school care (K-5), summer enrichment, community gardening, and health and wellness programs to low-income children and families in the West End of Bowling Green, Kentucky. All programs are offered at no charge to families and are funded through donations, grants, and government subsidies. The organization operates from an 8-acre facility that includes licensed preschool classrooms, a gymnasium, playgrounds, and community garden space.

Product overview

The Foundry Christian Community Center Inc offers a portfolio of community programs centered on education, health and fitness, and spiritual development for children and families in the West End of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Its core educational offerings include the Preschool Academy (a free, 5-star-rated early childhood program for 3–4 year olds), the After School Academy (a rated after-school program for K–5th grade), and a five-week Summer Enrichment Camp. Complementary programming includes the Community Gardens Program and the Healthy Foundry Initiative (a holistic wellness initiative with health screenings and fitness activities). Facility rentals for community gym use round out the service portfolio. All programs are rooted in Christian faith-based values and are free or low-cost to participants, supported by donors, grants, and subsidies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Academy A 5 STAR-rated early childhood education program serving three and four-year-olds in the West Side of Bowling Green at no charge to families, designed around kindergarten readiness with a 1:6 teacher-to-student ratio and Christ-centered spiritual development.
• After School Academy A 5 STAR-rated after-school program for kindergarten through 5th grade students operating Monday through Thursday, offering homework assistance, reading skill development, mentorship, and a meal.
• Summer Enrichment Camp A five-week summer camp for kindergarten through 5th grade students designed to prevent summer learning loss, featuring enrichment activities including gardening, art, games, team-building exercises, and daily devotion.
• Community Gardens Program An active gardening club offering classes on gardening and canning, seed swaps, healthy eating and taste-testing events, and potlucks for community members on The Foundry's eight acres.
• Healthy Foundry Initiative A holistic wellness program providing health screenings (vision, dental, hearing, general wellness, and mental health), organized fitness opportunities, nutrition and cooking classes, and a faith component for children and families in the West End.
• Gym Rental Community-use gym facility available on a limited basis for family, church, and community events at The Foundry's Bowling Green location.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children scoring in 70th-90th percentile for kindergarten readiness vs. Kentucky state average of 51%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018United Way's dedication to kindergarten readiness creates mutually beneficial opportunities to support children in Kentucky. United Way is mentioned as a community partnership that helped The Foundry achieve its 5 STAR rating and supports early childhood education initiatives.
• Crossland Community ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Crossland Community Church to expand the gardening project to include high tunnels, extending the growing season to nine months out of the year and providing income possibility for local residents through local food banks.
• South Central Workforce Development BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host a job fair in 2021. The Foundry works with the Board to pre-screen individuals in the West End to match them with employers needing specific types of workers.
• Dishman-McGinness Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood elementary school partnership for student referrals and educational coordination. One of the primary school partners serving the West End community.
• Parker Bennett Curry Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood elementary school partnership for student referrals and educational coordination. Primary school partner serving the West End community.
• Barren River Health DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health partner contributing to the Healthy Foundry Initiative by providing health screenings (vision, dental, hearing, general wellness, mental health) for people in the West End.
• Warren County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local public school system for educational coordination, student referrals, and Dr. Tracey Young serving as Director of Grants & Community Outreach representing the schools on The Foundry's board.
• South Central District of United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding organization - the South Central District of the United Methodist Church felt the call in 2010 to address poverty in the West End, purchased the former Boys and Girls Club, installed a Board of Directors, and birthed The Foundry Christian Community Center.
• Megan's Mobile GroceryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobile grocery food truck that parks in the neighborhood to allow families to buy groceries since no grocery stores are within walking distance. Community member grows vegetables on a plot to donate to the Mobile Grocery.
• Bowling Green Parks and RecreationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner enriching programs and showing example of positive connections and mutual support. Soccer field built by the City of Bowling Green on property leased from The Foundry.
• Bowling Green City SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with city school system for educational coordination and student support services.
• Gatton Academy of WKUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with WKU's Gatton Academy for educational enrichment opportunities and program support.
• Hensley & ThroneberryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPA firm partnership providing accounting and financial support services to The Foundry.
• Kiwanis of Bowling GreenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService club partnership supporting The Foundry's programs and mission through volunteer involvement and community support.
• Broadway United Methodist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch played vital role in preparing and launching the preschool at The Foundry. Pastor Adam Shourds helped write The Foundry's strategic plan. Senior Pastor Rick Bard helped place Sonja Blatchford in a staff position at The Foundry.
• West Side GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity garden partnership hosting gardening and canning classes, healthy eating events, potlucks and more. Active gardening club offering classes on gardening and canning, seed swaps, and healthy eating/taste testing events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: National provider of high-quality early childhood education and care with employer-sponsored centers. Comparable to The Foundry's preschool and after-school offerings in product category and quality orientation, though at much larger scale and with a fee-based employer-channel model.
• YMCA of the USA: National federation of community recreation and youth development centers combining childcare, after-school programming, fitness, and community services. Operates at significantly larger scale than The Foundry but shares the same neighborhood-hub model that integrates education, health/fitness, and youth development for low-income families.
• KinderCare Learning Centers: Large national for-profit operator of early childhood education centers serving infants through pre-K. Directly comparable to The Foundry's Preschool Academy in product category (center-based preschool) but operates as a fee-based commercial chain rather than a free faith-based nonprofit.
• La Petite Academy: National for-profit preschool and childcare chain serving infants through pre-K with an emphasis on school readiness. Directly comparable in product category to The Foundry's Preschool Academy, though operates commercially rather than as a free, faith-based community-serving nonprofit.

Others

• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that embeds staff inside K-12 schools to connect students to academic and non-academic supports, with a strong focus on low-income and at-risk youth. Adjacent to The Foundry in mission (breaking poverty cycles via education) and target population (West End school-age children), but delivers services differently via school-embedded site coordinators.
• Save the Children US: Major international NGO operating early childhood education, literacy, and after-school programs for underserved children in the U.S. Comparable in mission focus on childhood development in poverty-impacted communities and reliance on donor funding; operates at much larger geographic and programmatic scale.
• Junior Achievement USA: National nonprofit delivering K-12 educational programs in work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship, frequently targeting underserved schools. Comparable to The Foundry in serving school-age children in low-income communities via supplemental educational programming, though focused on a different curricular area.
• The Salvation Army USA: Faith-based nonprofit operating community centers, after-school programs, youth services, and food/housing assistance across the U.S. Comparable to The Foundry in faith-based community center model combining youth programming with holistic family services, though operates at significantly larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Childcare Network: Regional operator of early childhood education and after-school programs across the Southeast U.S., including Kentucky. Closely comparable to The Foundry in product mix (preschool + after-school) and geographic footprint, though operates on a tuition-based model rather than free services.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National federation of youth and community centers offering after-school, summer, and educational programming to underserved youth. The Foundry itself was established in the former Boys & Girls Club building in Bowling Green, and the operating model — neighborhood-based youth development center combining education, recreation, and community services — is directly comparable.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFoundryBG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-foundry-christian-community-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefoundry_bg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Foundry Christian Community Center Inc