Download Lesson 2 (68KB)
In Lesson 1 of this tutorial, we outlined how the Providence After School Alliance and its affiliates developed a business plan from the strategies set forth during planning sessions. The business plan, among other things, delineated funding needs to create a system of after-school programs. Many factors went into figuring the amount needed, including
- the anticipated number of youth who would participate (based on a sample size of 6,000).
- salaries of program providers and staff.
- transportation costs.
- intermediary operations costs.
- resources on hand, such as equipment and volunteers.
During its first five years, PASA received grants and resources from the following sources:
- 21st Century Community Learning Center grant -- $175,000 each for four schools for three years
- Wallace Foundation -- $5 million over five years
- Bank of America -- $1.3 million over five years
- U.S. Department of Agriculture -- provides snacks
- Providence School Department -- provides late bus transportation home for students at the end of the day
- City of Providence -- $300,000 per year for two years through a city line item and a Community Development Block Grant
In addition to the above major sources of private and public funding, PASA has been able to raise about $1 million per year from other national and regional foundations as well as smaller family and corporate foundations.
Using PASA's funding strategy as an example, you can begin raising funds by working with national, state, and local markets. As a coordinated network of partners, try to tap national funders that would not be interested in funding smaller, community-based organizations but might be interested in systems-building efforts. By building on connections with the police, schools, and other community partners, look to education, juvenile-justice, substance-abuse-prevention, and other sources that do not traditionally fund after-school programs. Parents and private organizations can also provide help -- not always through money but through equipment or volunteers. In addition, look at resources you already have on hand, such as a community bus system and school facilities.