Funding Sources
Out-of-school time (OST) programs are funded by a variety of sources, from parent fees to foundation grants to taxpayer dollars. In addition, many programs rely on in-kind contributions, some of them of substantial value, such as physical space and transportation. This section identifies budget planning tools and funding sources, and suggests resources for further investigation. The list of resources in this section was updated in January, 2009.
Index to This Section
Budget Planning
Title: Cost Worksheet for Out-of-School Time and Community School Initiatives 
Author: The Finance Project
Description: A tool to help out-of-school time practitioners and community schools develop initiatives and cost estimates.
Title: Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact: A Social-Entrepreneurial Approach to Solving Problems
Author: Andrew Wolk & Kelley Kreitz: Root Cause
Description: This resource applies the strategic rigor and financial savvy of traditional private-sector business planning to social problem solving. This practical guide provides an introduction to business planning for enduring social impact and leads readers through a four-step process for creating an actionable business plan.
Title: Beyond the Checkbook: A Financial Management Guide for Leaders of Small Youth-Serving Organizations
Author: Robert E. LaVallee and Kate Sandel: The Finance Project
Description: Work more effectively by taking the time to establish policies and processes that will keep your organization’s financial house in order.
Title: Business Planning for Nonprofits: What It Is and Why It Matters (Link opens in a new window.)
Author: Kelly Campbell and Betsy Haley: Bridgespan
Description: Business planning is a time for an organization’s leaders to connect the dots between mission and programs, to specify which activities and resources will be required to deliver those programs, and to establish performance measures that allow everyone to understand whether the desired results are being achieved.
Title: Don’t Compromise “Good Overhead” (Even in Tough Times) (Link opens in new window.)
Author: Don Howard and Ann Goggins Gregory: Bridegspan
Description: In tough times like today’s, funders are likely to scrutinize organizational overhead more than ever. But in conducting due diligence on a nonprofit, a would-be donor should never assume that low overhead is a sign of efficiency. Often it means the organization is stretched too thin to be healthy.
Title: Linking Mission and Money: An Introduction to Nonprofit Capitalization
Author: Nonprofit Finance Fund
Description: An organization’s mission and capital structure, as well as its organizational capacity must all be kept in balance, both as individual areas of concern and, on a larger scale, in relation to one another. The very health of the organization depends on it.
Developing a Strategic Financing Plan
Title: Finding Resources to Support Mentoring Programs and Services for Youth
Author: Brittany Anuszkiewicz, Nina Salomon, William Schmid, Roxana Torrico: The Finance Project
Description: This strategy brief highlights three financing strategies that leaders and stakeholders can use to finance and sustain mentoring programs and services for youth.
Title: Replacing Initial Grants: Tips for Out-of-School Time Programs and Initiatives
Author: The Finance Project
Description: A guide designed to help new program directors find long-term funding by providing concrete tips and examples of ways other out-of-school time initiative leaders have succeeded in replacing initial seed grant money by creating a diverse portfolio of federal, state, local and private funds.
Author: Introduction and Analysis by Kate Sandel: The Finance Project
Description: This compendium includes 32 profiles of out-of-school time programs that have succeeded in sustaining their work by developing strategies to marshal a broad range of critical fiscal and non-fiscal resources. Each profile includes an overview of the program or initiative, and typically includes budget information, a summary of financing and sustainability strategies employed, keys to success, lessons learned and anticipated challenges or next steps.
Title: Thinking Broadly: Financing Strategies for Youth Programs
Author: Prepared by Sharon G. Deich and Cheryl D. Hayes: The Finance Project
Description: Effective financing strategies for youth programs.
Funding Opportunities
Title: Estimated Federal Investment in Out-of-School Time
Author: The Finance Project
Description: Provides the estimated federal investment in out-of-school time from numerous federal funding streams (CCDF, 21CCLC, TANF, Food and Nutrition, Title I, Social Service Block Grant) and an overview of each funding stream and methodology for determining their estimated investment.
Title: Finding Funding: A Guide to Federal Sources for Youth Programs
Author: Dionne Dobbins-Harper and Soumya Bhat: The Finance Project
Description: Outlines strategies for gaining access to and using federal funds and provides information on 103 funding sources offering supports for youth programs.
Title: SAMHSA Funding Opportunities for Afterschool
Author: Dionne Dobbins: The Finance Project
Description: This Funding Note focuses on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Title: U.S. Department of Justice Funding Opportunities for Afterschool
Author: Dionne Dobbins: The Finance Project
Description: Provides an overview of funding opportunities at the Department of Justice that may support afterschool, as well as examples of programs currently accessing these funds and tips for programs interested in doing so.
Title: Using TANF to Finance Out-of-School Time Initiatives
Author: Nanette Relave and Margaret Flynn-Khan: The Finance Project
Description: This brief is designed to help policymakers and program developers understand the opportunities and challenges of effectively using TANF funding to support out-of-school-time initiatives.
Title: Financing and Sustaining Out-of-School Time Programs in Rural Communities
Author: Kate Sandel and Soumya Bhat: The Finance Project
Description: Describes various public and private resources that can support rural out-of-school time programming and identifies effective strategies that can be used by program leaders to create sustainable approaches to their work.
Title: Finding Resources to Support Rural Out-of-School Time Initiatives
Author: Elisabeth Wright: The Finance Project
Description: Describes federal programs that can support rural out-of-school time program and identifies strategies that state and local leaders can use to support and sustain out-of-school time in rural communities.
Title: Creating Dedicated Local and State Revenue Sources for Youth Programs
Author: Rachel H. Sherman, Sharon G. Deich and Barbara Hanson Langford: The Finance Project
Description: A resources guide outlining tools, strategies, and resources to support and sustain effective youth programs and policies.
Title: Afterschool Guide
Author: National Dairy Council
Description: Explains the basics of afterschool nutrition programs, offering a step-by-step guide on how to access crucial funding sources and providing information on the resources available to afterschool programs for nutrition education.
Title: Funding and Sustainability: Be in the Know
Author: Afterschool Alliance
Description: A brief introduction to locating sustainable funding for afterschool.
Title: Understanding the State of Knowledge of Youth Engagement Financing and Sustainability
Author: Arcacelis Grey and Cheryl D. Hayes: The Finance Project
Description: This report provides critical information on the costs, funding sources, financing strategies and sustainability of youth engagement.
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