Welcome to the Afterschool Alliance online Funding Forum. Here we will host online chats with funding experts to answer your questions. We'll also feature guest columns and interviews with your peers and outside specialists. Click here to send us your funding questions or requests for forum topics.

• ATTRACTING BUSINESS SPONSORS FOR LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL AND BEYOND

  From the Inroduction: This funding chat builds off the previous chat with Thomas Buckley of AT&T (see Funding Forum 3) and responds to questions about attracting business sponsors for Lights On and beyond. Lights On Afterschool is October 12th and in past years a number of afterschool programs reported success in recruiting business sponsors of their program using Lights On Afterschool as the initial hook. Includes responses to the most frequently asked questions regarding recruiting business sponsors for Lights On Afterschool Read more...

• ENGAGING BUSINESS IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

  From the Inroduction: The Afterschool Alliance spoke with Thomas Buckley, External Affairs Manager at AT&T Connecticut. Tom is responsible for community, legislative and municipal relations for the northwest part of Connecticut. He has been involved with Connecticut schools since 1987 and is a member of the Connecticut After School Advisory Board. Read more...

• FUNDING SNACKS FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

  From the Inroduction: This month, we focus on snacks for afterschool programs. Providing food is an on-going program cost that can really add up, but there are solutions. Child nutrition programs reimburse afterschool programs for snacks and, in some cases, meals. There are different options available to programs in low-income and other areas. To learn more about how to do this, we turned to Crystal FitzSimons, Senior Policy Analyst at the Food Research and Action Center. Read more...

• RESPONSES TO FUNDING QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD (Sept 2005)

  From the Inroduction: Welcome to the first edition of the Afterschool Alliance online Funding Forum. In this online chat, the Afterschool Alliance taps outside experts to respond to your questions on funding sources and sustainability strategies for afterschool programs. Topics range from funding for arts to the right mix of funding sources to typical program costs. Read more...