Afterschool programs supported through Congressional Community Project Funding

When President Biden signed the FY 2022 federal spending bill last month, it included community project funding (previously known as earmarks) for the first time in more than 10 years. Community Project Funding (CPF) allows members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent. CPF is separate from federal grants and funding appropriated by formula, and represents about 1 percent of the total discretionary funding in the FY 22 omnibus spending bill. Several dozen members of Congress chose to support local afterschool, summer learning, and youth programs in their communities or states through the CPF – totaling approximately $14 million in support for quality out of school time programs nationwide. Additionally, with the FY 23 appropriations process kicking off this month, Senators and Representatives are currently posting information on their websites on how local programs can submit CPF requests for the upcoming appropriations cycle – with many deadlines for requests occurring this month.

The CPF is governed by strict requirements to promote transparency and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Notably, CPF is available only to nonprofit organizations and to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. In addition, only projects with evidence of strong levels of community support will be considered. According to guidance from the House Appropriations Committee, this evidence can take a number of different forms, ranging from a letter from local stakeholders, letters to the editor in local papers, inclusion on state or local planning documents, support in city or state resolutions, and more. 

FY22 approved Community Funding Project requests supporting afterschool or summer learning programs included:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, California. – Rep. Nanette Diaz $500,000
• YMCA of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, California. For afterschool and early learning readiness programs – Rep. Lofgren $1,200,000
• YMCA Mid Valley, Van Nuys, California. For learning recovery activities, including online and in-person tutoring supports – Rep. Tony Cardenas $1,000,000
• Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley, Pacoima, California. For STEM and SEL programs – Rep. Tony Cardenas $450,000
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress, Cypress, California. For academic support and youth engagement – Rep. Lowenthal $1,000,000
• Boys & Girls Clubs in Colorado, Inc., to provide mental health services to promote social-emotional well-being among youth, including those exposed to trauma – Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper $2,000,000
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware. For support of afterschool literacy education, peer tutoring and youth programs - Sens. Carper, Coons $250,000
• Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, Florida. For its College and Work Readiness STEM program – Rep. Frankel $525,000 
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, Hawaii. For out -of-school time academic support and youth development programming – Sen. Schatz $430.000
• YMCA of Honolulu, Hawaii. To expand its preschool program – Sen. Schatz $791,000
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township, Carpentersville, Illinois. For an academic and SEL support program – Rep. Casten $250,000
• Urban Transformation Network, Chicago, Illinois. For the Urban Youth Green Afterschool program – Rep. Davis $275,000
• Bright Leadership Institute. Chicago, Illinois. For youth mentoring and enrichment activities. Rep. Davis $500,000
• North Hudson Community Action Corporation, New Jersey. For afterschool and summer programs, including technology. Sen. Menendez         $80,000
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Rochester, New York. For a comprehensive afterschool and summer program – Rep. Morelle $100,000
• YMCA of Greater New York, New York. For youth development programs – Rep. Jeffries $1,000,000
• YMCA of New Rochelle, New York. For its Educational Achievement Gap Program – Rep. Bowman and Sen. Gillibrand $500,000
• Block Island Maritime Institute, Rhode Island. For out- of-school time critical needs resources – Sen. Reed $100,000
• YMCA of Greater Houston, Texas. For the Early Childhood English language learner initiative – Rep. Garcia (TX) $700,000
• Page Ahead, Washington. For a summer literacy program – Sen. Murray $250,000

In addition to local afterschool programs, at least three statewide afterschool networks also received CPF support:

• Minnesota: Ignite Afterschool: Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) who also serves as co-chair of the Senate Afterschool Caucus, secured $400,000 awarded to Ignite Afterschool to develop a statewide Minnesota STEM Ecosystems Network. The funds will support the public-private partnership between Ignite Afterschool and their partner organization South East Service Cooperative. Their combined effort will increase access, opportunity and identify gaps to STEM experiences by youth in Minnesota.
• Oregon: OregonASK will partner with Salem Arts Association who received through $260,000 in funding for a summer youth arts education initiative from Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)
• Vermont: Vermont Afterschool received $883,000 from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to develop and implement youth-driven projects and increase safe, engaging out-of-school spaces for youth in five Vermont communities. The project seeks to advance youth agency, empowerment, and voice.

Information on CPF Requests for FY 23 has been circulated by the House Appropriations Committee and includes considerations the Appropriations Committee will take into account when selecting projects to fund. Local afterschool programs interested in submitting a request for Community Project Funding should check their Representative or Senators website for guidelines and deadlines.