Strategies for Funding Afterschool Programs to be Featured in Audioconference
by Katie Meade
City officials who dial into an upcoming NLC audioconference will learn about the costs of financing high-quality afterschool programs and the broad range of funding streams that can be used to support a citywide system of out-of-school time activities.
Sponsored by NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute), this free, hour-long call, entitled “What Do High-Quality, Out-of-School Time Programs Cost? Research Findings from The Wallace Foundation,” will take place Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The call will highlight new findings from the “Costs of Out-of-School Time Programs” study commissioned by the Wallace Foundation. Dr. Jean Grossman, lead researcher on the study, will discuss what quality out-of-school time services actually cost and how city leaders, community partners and program providers can work together to access multiple funding sources to create high-quality afterschool opportunities. In addition, speakers from cities that have developed innovative financing strategies will share ideas and lessons from their experiences.
The YEF Institute will also share a new strategy guide on “Financial Strategies to Support Citywide Systems of Out-of-School Time Programs” that describes options that city officials may consider for sustaining programs in a tight fiscal environment.
City Funding Strategies
Cities across the country have worked to develop high-quality afterschool opportunities for children and youth, but providing the funding to take these programs to scale and sustain them over time is a growing challenge.
Municipal leaders have responded with a variety of strategies to leverage multiple funding sources. For instance, some cities have developed nonprofit intermediaries or charitable trusts that bring in matching dollars from foundations and businesses, as well as tax-deductible contributions from individuals. In Columbus, Ohio, Mayor Michael Coleman established the Mayor’s Charitable Trust to ensure the sustainability of afterschool programs in the city. The mayor raises dollars annually for the fund from businesses and the community at large. Since the inception of the program in 2000, approximately $4.5 million dollars from the city’s general fund and the Mayor’s Charitable Trust have been used to support afterschool programs.
Other cities, such as Denver, San Francisco and Fort Worth, Texas, have developed dedicated local funding streams for afterschool programs through budget set-asides or special, voter-approved tax levies. In addition, cities have found better ways to maximize the use of existing resources. For instance, the City of New Orleans underwent a fund mapping process to determine which funding streams were being used to support local afterschool programs. By creating this fund map, the city was able to identify several additional discretionary federal programs that could potentially be used to fund the city’s afterschool programs.
How to Register for the Call
While the call is free, it is available only to a limited number of participants. Advance registration is required by close of business on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. A separate registration is needed for each phone line that will be used to listen to the call.
To register, visit www.nlc.org/iyef. No phone registrations can be accepted. One day prior to the event, each registrant will receive an e-mail or fax message providing a toll-free, dial-in number to use in joining the audioconference.
To ask questions about this audioconference, leave a detailed message on the YEF Institute information line at (202) 626-3014.
Details: To learn more about how cities are improving and expanding afterschool opportunities, visit www.nlc.org/iyef or contact Bela Shah at (202) 626-3057 or shah@nlc.org, or Lane Russell at (202) 626-3008 or russell@nlc.org.
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