Funding Afterschool Programs

Funding for afterschool and summer programs comes from both public and private sources. Below are some resources that specifically address funding for afterschool programs.

Afterschool & Economic Recovery & Reinvestment Act

Overview of Funding Available for Direct Services to Youth Ages 13-24
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workforce Investment’s Division of Youth Services released a summary document providing an overview of the different sources of funding available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  These funding sources are targeted at direct services to youth ages 13-24.  The summary is available here.

The Afterschool Alliance
The Afterschool Alliance provides a comprehensive analysis of the federal economic recovery and reinvestment act and its impact on afterschool and out-of-school time.  For more information visit their website. 

The Afterschool Alliance created a wiki for the field and our staff to post ideas, questions and answers related to the Economic Recovery Act, how the funds may flow, how to access them and what we can do to position afterschool for support.  See the Economic Recovery Act Wiki.

Funding Opportunities: Children/Youth
Here is a list of funds currently available or upcoming grant competitions with resources targeted to children and youth. Each listing provides a website or contact person for more information.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Recovery Act
Minnesota’s Workforce Centers have received federal funding for summer youth employment programs for the first time in 12 years.  These funds were included in the federal stimulus package and are being distributed to Minnesota’s 16 Workforce Services Areas. 

Afterschool and summer programs working with low-income youth who are lacking academic and applied skills considered to be critical for current and future workplace needs may want to contact the workforce centers regarding potential partnerships.  A summary of allocations, eligibility guidelines, and local contacts are available on our website. 

For more information on the summer youth employment program contact Kay Tracy at 651-259-7555 or kay.tracy@state.mn.us.   

Minnesota Out-of-School Time Funding Streams - Summary Report, 2009; Full Report, 2009
In an effort to generate a common understanding regarding the structure of funding for out-of-school time programs in Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Education and its partners engaged Access Philanthropy to conduct a survey of major funding issues, sources of funding and major funding allocations. The study expands on the document,Charting A Course: Connecting Out-of-School Time Opportunities, which provided a listing of key funding sources available from the Minnesota Department of Education to support out-of-school time programming.

Understanding the State of Knowledge of Youth Engagement Financing and Sustainability
Youth programs and organizations have developed a variety of approaches for including young people in decision-making processes that affect them, their peers, and their communities. Despite these efforts, little is known about these approaches. The Annie E. Casey Foundation funded the Finance Project to produce a report on the state of knowledge on financing and sustaining youth engagement programs.

The Finance Project
The Finance Project is a specialized non-profit research, consulting, technical assistance and training firm for public and private sector leaders nationwide that helps leaders make smart investment decisions, develop sound financing strategies, and build solid partnerships that benefit children, families and communities.

Sample Publications include:

• A Guide to Successful Public-Private Partnerships for Youth Programs (PDF)
• Creating Dedicated Local and State Revenue Sources for Youth Programs (PDF)
• Financing and Sustaining Out-of-School Time Programs in Rural Communities (PDF)

Public Resources

Charting A Course: Connecting Out-of-School Time Opportunities (PDF)

Minnesota Department of Education
Two out-of-school time grants programs are currently being administered by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE): the federal NCLB Title IV 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant and the Minnesota After-School Community Learning Programs grant.

Private Resources

The Minnesota Council of Foundations
This report outlines private contributions to youth programs in Minnesota citing grant makers devote the largest share of their youth development funding for programs in the categories of Safe Places and Activities, Learning and Education, and Leadership and Life Skills.

The McKnight Foundation
The McKnight Foundation has supported quality afterschool programming through grant-making for programs, professional development, and research.

Sheltering Arms Foundation
The Foundation supports programs benefiting children and their families in Minnesota who are most vulnerable, have least access to resources, and are least likely to have a wide array of choices about their future. Grant-making focuses on children and youth ages 13 and under.

Northland Foundation

The Foundation supports youth development, leadership and community development through their Kids Plus Initiative.

Best Buy Foundation
The Best Buy Children's Foundation strengthens communities through national, regional, and local grant-making programs. Our goal is to empower youth to thrive by helping them excel in school, engage in their communities, and develop life and leadership skills.

3M Foundation
The 3M Foundation provides funding for afterschool learning opportunities, STEM opportunities and career development programs.

Target Foundation
Target Foundation supports learning during the school day and beyond.

Cargill Foundation
Invests in organizations and programs that demonstrate leadership and effectiveness in educating socio-economically disadvantaged children (PreK-12) and in eliminating barriers to their educational success.