Afterschool Alliance

Securing Funding and Long-Term Sustainability Finding funding is a top issue for afterschool programs everywhere — let’s talk about what you need to know to secure funds and advocate for long-term program sustainability. Designed to build on the Afterschool Alliance’s sustainability blog series, we’ll dig into questions about where programs can source funds and what they need to do to make sure afterschool remains in local, state, and federal budgets now and going forward. We’ll hear stories from the field as local programs describe how they’ve kept the lights on afterschool for kids in their communities.

It's never easy to come back to school after winter break. To all the students, teachers, and staff returning to school today: Welcome back and happy 2025!

How has your afterschool or summer program helped to #EngageEveryStudent? Apply by Jan. 31 to the Engage Every Student Recognition Program to have your program recognized for its impact on youth! https://lnkd.in/eqWtZv3a

Welcome back to our #FundAfterschool series: 2025 edition!✨ Ready to hit the ground running this month? Start building relationships with your program stakeholders today! Our new afterschool funding worksheet is designed to help you link key stakeholders and potential funding sources to support your afterschool program. Download the full worksheet now! https://lnkd.in/eg9XVyKw

Big News! After two years of hard work, we’re thrilled to introduce the South Dakota Afterschool Program Quality Self-Assessment Tool! This tool is your guide to assessing strengths, setting goals, and fostering collaboration to elevate afterschool and summer programs, focusing on 4 key areas: Health & Safety, Relationship & Interactions, Activities & Experiences and Program Management. Let’s raise the bar together and kick off 2025 with meaningful growth and positive change! Get started here >> https://bit.ly/3DDZ4Os #AfterschoolWorks #ProgramQuality #ContinuousImprovement

This year, we celebrated #LightsOnAfterschool – and so did the White House! This October, President Joe Biden recognized the essential role of afterschool programs in helping our nation's youth, parents, and families thrive. That deserves a spot in our 2024 highlights!

As we close out the year, the Afterschool Alliance is filled with gratitude for the incredible afterschool programs that engage, inspire, and empower our young people—and for every person in this field working alongside us to ensure all youth have access to these invaluable out-of-school time opportunities. This year, we’ve expanded opportunities for young people, supported families, and strengthened our communities. None of this would be possible without the dedication of program providers, the generous support of funders, and the commitment of afterschool champions at all levels. Thank you. Here's to a bright 2025.

We’re reminiscing about the big moments in afterschool–and we can’t help but mention the 2024 Afterschool for All Challenge, where 200 advocates came from all across the country to show their support for afterschool and urge their elected officials to support increased funding for the out-of-school time programs their families, communities, and states rely on! https://lnkd.in/edbDZRa3

2024 also brought us a collaboration between the Afterschool Alliance and the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) to help support a thriving afterschool workforce and address the pressing need for a skilled and stable workforce to ensure increased access to quality programming. Read more about the partnership here! https://lnkd.in/egkZi-mH

Next up in our year-end roundup: Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant's testimony to the DC City Council Committee of the Whole! Alongside 100+ afterschool advocates, Jodi testified in support of universal access to afterschool and summer programs: “High-quality programming provides youth with the foundational skills they need for future success in school and life. More resources are needed, not just to expand afterschool but to maintain current programming. The Universal Out of School Time Amendment Act of 2023 is an important step toward that goal.” https://lnkd.in/evwmXmhc