As the demand for high-quality, affordable after school programs increases, so does the need for funds to support out-of-school time opportunities. Here are five resources to help fund and support your after school program.
Did you know the average annual cost of running a high-quality, after school program is between $3,450 and $3,780 per student? Unfortunately, federal funding has been able to fill less than 25% of community grant requests. According to the recent America After 3PM study, 10.2 million children attend an after school program, with another 19.4 million children willing to participate in a program if one were available. As the demand for high-quality, affordable after school programs increases, so does the need for funds to support out-of-school time (OST) opportunities.
As an after school director, it’s important to learn the best ways to finance and sustain your program initiatives. Below are five resources to help fund and support your after school program:
- Afterschool Alliance | Funding and Sustainability
- The After School Institute | Getting Funding
- Statewide After School Networks | Funding Sources
- Youth.gov | Funding for After School Programs
- NC CAP | Funding Resources
Also, here are a few grant opportunities to get you started:
McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation
Application deadline: April 15, 2016
Award amount: Up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of three years.
Criteria: Programs that nurture the intellectual, artistic and creative abilities of children from low-income households.
Application deadline: No deadline for a submission of a letter of inquiry
Award amount: $10,000 to multi-million dollars.
Criteria: Programs promoting science learning in order to enrich communities where Amgen has a presence.
Application deadline: Rolling
Award amount: $1,000
Criteria: Programs with ‘awesome’ projects that tend to challenge and expand students’ understanding of individual and communal potentials.
Application deadline: February 10, 2016
Award amount: $10,000
Criteria: Non-profit organizations that that provide leadership and growth opportunities for at-risk children between ages 6 and 18. Applicants must be located in Indiana, Louisiana, Tennessee or the Denver metro area.
