WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION The George Lucas Educational Foundation

Making Ends Meet with PASA

PASA executive director and Providence mayor talk about finding funding, attracting investors, and getting the most bang for your buck. Plus, advice and links for funding your own program.

By molly
1/20/09
PASA executive director and Providence mayor talk about finding funding, attracting investors, and getting the most bang for your buck. Plus, advice and links for funding your own program.
Credits | Release Date: 01/15/09
Edutopia Staff

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Read the following funding tips, or click here for additional resources.

Funding Tips

Funding for extended-day learning programs comes from many sources. Here's a short sampling.

  • Federal funding. Find federal resources that provide grants and funding for extended learning programs.
  • Parents. Ask for parent donations. Parents are usually willing to donate varying amounts to enrich their child's learning.
  • Local businesses. Recruit businesses to provide support -- through funding or other resources. Do your research first; many businesses receive requests for support. Understand the company history, and make contact with the right representatives.
  • Foundations. Research local and state foundations dedicated to serving youth, the arts, health, and related topics.

Funding Links

Check out these Web sites for more information about funding full-time learning.

  • Department of Education: Federal grant applications, opportunities, and resources for educators in the United States.
  • Afterschool.gov: Comprehensive site that connects educators and the public to federal resources for financing and running full-time-learning programs.
  • Afterschool Alliance: Tools, databases, and advice for funding full-time-learning programs.
  • Children Now: Policy reports and research on California's after-school programs. Includes a kit for applying for California after-school funding.
  • Education World Grants Center: List of current education grants and articles for grant seekers.
  • 712educators.com Grant Resources: Guides and tips on how to write grant proposals.
  • The Foundation Center: Resources, tools, training, and news for grant writing and locating prospective funders.