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 competition, bringing the total Aim High investments to $11.55 million!

Programs will be selected for grants based on their ability to help youth transition successfully to ninth grade and how they provide academic, social, and emotional supports for youth. Eligible programs can apply to one of four grant categories with funding ranging from $15,000 to $100,000. The $15,000 grant tiers will prioritize two focus areas: The first tier will support programs’ racial equity and social justice efforts, while the second tier will support youth entrepreneurship and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. Take a look at the opportunities to find the grant category that best aligns with your program’s goals and mission.

The grant categories are:

$100,000 Level

• Ten (10) grants of $50,000 per year over the span of two years (for a total award of $100,000) will go to OST programs with annual program budgets of $250,000 or more and annual organizational budgets of $500,000 or more.

$50,000 Level

• Ten (10) grants of $25,000 per year over the span of two years (for a total award of $50,000) will go to OST programs with annual organizational budgets of $250,000 or more.

$15,000 Level

• Twenty (20) grants of $15,000 over one year will go to OST programs with annual organizational budgets of $150,000 or more.
  • Ten (10) will focus on racial equity and social justice, and
  • Ten (10) will focus on youth entrepreneurship and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.

Grant funds may be used for technical assistance, enhancing direct service activities, and/or program expansion. All applicants must describe how their programs support youth in the transition to the ninth grade.

• Two-year grant applicants (for both the $50,000 and $100,000 grants) will need to demonstrate improved results around indicators of success such as on-time grade promotion, school attendance rates, behavior, grades and test scores, and/or the development of social and emotional skills.
   
• One-year grant applicants must describe how they intend to enhance efforts related to social justice and racial equity or youth entrepreneurship and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.

The New York Life Foundation invests in middle school OST programs to help eighth-graders living in marginalized and under-resourced communities successfully get to ninth grade on time and prepared for high school. Research indicates that increased learning opportunities through high-quality afterschool, expanded-day, and summer programs leads to greater academic achievement, better school attendance, and greater student engagement.

Since 2013, the Foundation has invested more than $84 million toward national middle school OST initiatives. The Aim High RFP grants program provides a way for the Foundation to support smaller programs in communities nationwide.

The Afterschool Alliance is administering the grant application process on behalf of the Foundation. An expert panel of external reviewers will assist in evaluating the applications. Awardees will be notified in May 2024.

Join our webinar on January 11 at 2 p.m. ET to learn more about this opportunity. Applications are due February 1, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET. View the full RFP and submit your application here.

Questions? Check out the FAQ or email the Afterschool Alliance at aimhigh@afterschoolalliance.org.