How to Fund Afterschool Programs in Your Community

By:

  • Emily Young
October 13, 2023 - (3 min read)

Afterschool and summer learning programs are a proven way for cities to support the young people in their communities. These programs provide vital enrichment activities, academic support, trusting relationships with caring adults, and much more to the youth who participate in them. Yet cities consistently face a large hurdle in bringing these programs to their young people – funding.

 It is no secret that afterschool and summer learning programs require dedicated investments on the part of municipalities and may be costly. Many cities have turned to federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to invest in afterschool programs and help students recover from the impacts of the pandemic. Other cities have tapped into municipal general funds, or those from their Parks & Recreation Department, to fund these programs. However, with the 2024 allocation deadline for ARPA funds looming, and municipal budgets still feeling the impacts of the pandemic, the question remains of how to sustainably fund afterschool programs for years to come.

If your city is interested in learning more about funding strategies to support afterschool and summer learning programs, join NLC on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 1 p.m. EST for How to Fund Sustainable Afterschool Programs in Your City. This one-hour webinar will feature experts from NLC’s Education & Expanded Learning team, along with Scott Palmer and Sean Worley of the Education Council and guests from an NLC member city. Together, they will outline strategies for funding high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs and discuss the importance of partnerships in promoting program sustainability. These experts will also demystify the various federal funding sources cities can tap into to support afterschool programs, as outlined in this guide, Building, Sustaining, & Improving: Using Federal Funds for Summer Learning and Afterschool, commissioned by The Wallace Foundation. Whether you are a city just beginning to think about funding afterschool and summer learning programs or have an established system of support for these programs already, this webinar is for you!

How to Fund Sustainable Afterschool Programs

Finding the funding for engaging afterschool youth programs is a challenge in every community. This webinar, hosted by NLC with EdCounsel, explores ways cities can sustainably fund afterschool programs in their communities. Panelists will demystify the range of federal funds cities can use to support afterschool programs and discuss the importance of partnerships in promoting program sustainability. Join us for our upcoming webinar on October 24m 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

About the Author

Emily Young

About the Author

Emily Young is a Program Specialist with the Education and Expanded Learning team within the Institute for Youth, Education, and Families at the National League of Cities.