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An insider's guide to funding afterschool: Connecting donors to your mission

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An insider's guide to funding afterschool: Connecting donors to your mission

The Afterschool Alliance is pleased to present the second installment of "An insider's guide to funding afterschool," a new blog series by Ed Spitzberg, Vice President of Development at the Afterschool Alliance, featuring strategies to successfully fund and sustain out-of-school time programs. 

So now that you’ve leveraged the resources you have (see last month’s post), let’s talk about how to link donors to your organization.

What’s the best way to connect donors to your organization?  Well, personal relationships are important, sure. But you want long-term gifts… gifts that are tied to the organization, not any one individual. You want donors to have a relationship with the organization.

And what makes a relationship between a donor and your organization? Many things of course, but most important (and most obvious if you’ve peeked at the title of this post) is connection to your organization's mission.

So, how do you make this connection?

  • Stories about impact – Share with donors about specific kids (without identifying information, of course) who have benefited from your program. How did they participate in your program? What changes did they have in their lives after participating in your program?
  • Chance to observe program – Even better than stories: have them see your work, meet your kids and understand firsthand the impact you make.
  • Chance to participate in program – And even better than observing is participating. They can volunteer to be a mentor, serve on the board or enroll their own children. 
  • Persistently friendly communication – Make sure they know the work you do throughout the year. Call, send e-mails, etc. Persistence is good. Annoyance isn’t, so make sure you have a good feel as to where to draw the line.

If you do all that, when it comes time for the ask, you’ll have a much easier time of it. You’ll be spared from having to make the ask along the lines of, “You like me, I like this person, so please give,” and instead can make the easier-for-them-and-you (and more successful) ask, “As you know from your experience seeing our work first hand, we help X number of people by doing ABC really well.  Will you please give us $Y, which will help make the B part of ABC possible?”

After your donor has generously given his or her gift in support of your mission, don’t forget to make sure that the donor’s connection to the mission continues. We’ll talk more about stewardship in a later blog.

Until then, I hope you’ll remember all the good work you’re doing for young people in your community. We at the Afterschool Alliance appreciate it, and your prospective donors will too.

Now open: The New York Life Foundation offers grants up to $100,000 for OST programs serving middle school youth - apply now!

The New York Life Foundation’s 2024 Aim High grant competition is now open for applications! A total of 40 grants totaling $1.8 million will be awarded to afterschool, summer, or expanded learning programs serving middle school youth. This marks the 8th year of the Aim High grant...

BY: Tiyana Glenn      12/12/23

Up to $30k for programs improving family literacy, engagement, leadership

The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) is seeking program proposals for the Sharon Darling Innovation Fund (SDIF) Family Learning System Challenge. This funding opportunity will award up to $30,000 to organizations that are developing and implementing innovative programs and strategies...

BY: Nicole Pettenati      04/18/23

Check your afterschool program's eligibility for Yield Giving grants

In the past three years, MacKenzie Scott has shaken up traditional philanthropy by granting high-dollar awards to nonprofits in a variety of fields, including afterschool and summer learning. Until now, programs had no way of applying for or expressing interest in these awards.  At the end...

BY: Nicole Pettenati      04/11/23

Workforce Pathways for Youth grants available

In March, the Department of Labor published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Workforce Pathways for Youth Grants. A pre-recorded applicant webinar will be available by April 14, 2023 and applications will be due May 19, 2023. The grants offer up to $2 million to national out-of-school time...

BY: Jillian Luchner      04/07/23

Now open: Grants up to $100,000 from the New York Life Foundation for Out-of-School Time (OST) programs

The New York Life Foundation is seeking applications for $1,800,000 in grants to afterschool, summer, or expanded learning programs serving underserved middle-school youth. This is the seventh year of the Foundation’s Aim High grant competition, and this year’s awards will bring...

BY: Dan Gilbert      12/06/22

New Wallace Foundation and EdCounsel resource offers opportunities to discover funding streams and develop partnerships

This July, The Wallace Foundation launched a new free resource created by EducationCounsel (EdCounsel): “Using Federal Funds for Summer Learning and Afterschool: A New Guide for Providers, School Districts, and Intermediaries” to help out-of-school time providers and leaders, school and...

BY: Sophie Kidd      08/09/22

Funding opportunity: National grant initiative for civic learning projects

By Frances Hannan, Program Officer for the WW Higher Education Media Fellowship and the Director of Multimedia Projects at the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. The Civic Spring Fellowship has open applications for two innovative grant initiatives that will support young people looking to...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/04/22

States put kids first with new revenue streams

Several new state revenue streams are emerging in states from Alaska to Maryland, and lawmakers in those states are recognizing the value of investing in young people and families with the funds generated. In Louisiana, revenue from sports gambling is being used to support early childhood...

BY: Jen Rinehart      03/17/22

Now open: The New York Life Foundation offers grants up to $100,000 for OST programs serving middle school youth - apply now!

The New York Life Foundation’s 2024 Aim High grant competition is now open for applications! A total of 40 grants totaling $1.8 million will be awarded to afterschool, summer, or expanded learning programs serving middle school youth. This marks the 8th year of the Aim High grant...

BY: Tiyana Glenn      12/12/23

$1.8M awarded to middle school out-of-school time programs

The New York Life Foundation and the Afterschool Alliance are pleased to announce the 2023 Aim High grant recipients. Now in its seventh year, the Aim High grant has provided a total of $9.75 million dollars to afterschool, summer and expanded learning programs that help middle school students...

BY: Dan Gilbert      06/21/23

Now open: Grants up to $100,000 from the New York Life Foundation for Out-of-School Time (OST) programs

The New York Life Foundation is seeking applications for $1,800,000 in grants to afterschool, summer, or expanded learning programs serving underserved middle-school youth. This is the seventh year of the Foundation’s Aim High grant competition, and this year’s awards will bring...

BY: Dan Gilbert      12/06/22

New Wallace Foundation and EdCounsel resource offers opportunities to discover funding streams and develop partnerships

This July, The Wallace Foundation launched a new free resource created by EducationCounsel (EdCounsel): “Using Federal Funds for Summer Learning and Afterschool: A New Guide for Providers, School Districts, and Intermediaries” to help out-of-school time providers and leaders, school and...

BY: Sophie Kidd      08/09/22