While afterschool programs serve a variety of communities, from rural to urban to everything in between, at least one thing is common: the need for sustainable funding.

Programs that are successful at raising money share another common characteristic: they reach out and ask for support.

Where can you find your next funding source? It might be a local business, the Parks and Rec department, a community foundation. It's all a matter of spending a little time to think about connections you have, networking your board can do, and who you need to meet. It's part homework and part creative thinking.

We know that finding funding and building relationships take time and effort. The Afterschool Alliance wants to help. In this area you will find:

• Building Sustainability: tools that have proven results in helping programs find new funding sources
  
  
  • Introduction to Sustainability - PowerPoint presentation with information for you, or modify it for a presentation of your own to others [link to ppt]
    
    
  • Building Sustainability Worksheet - Determining Information You Need and Relationships to Build
    
    
  • Bringing It All Together - Next Steps
    
    
    • Engage stakeholders through advocacy, site visits and more.
      
      Click on the links below for ideas:
      
      
    • Advocacy and the Key Campaign
    • Plan a Site Visit
    • Participate in the Afterschool for All Challenge
    • Sign up to be a partner in Afterschool for All
      
      
  • Tips on Writing Proposals
    
    
• Database of Funding Sources - Searchable by agency, locality or activity
  
  
  • Most frequently accessed funds for afterschool programs
    
    
    • 21st Century Community Learning Centers
    • Child Care Development Fund
    • Child and Adult Care Food Program
    • Supplemental Education Services
      
      
• Success Stories - Learn from your peers. If you have a sustainability success story to share, please email us at info@afterschoolalliance.org.
  
  
  • Accessing Child Care Dollars for Afterschool
    
    
  • Maximizing Connections to Build Participation and Community Support
    
    
  • Leveraging Personal Connections to Build Sustainability
    
    
  • Lights On Afterschool Celebration Opens Door to New Contribution
    
    
• Funding Forum - Q&A with funding experts
  
  
• Fundraising through Sponsorships
  
  
  • 10 Tips for Getting (and Keeping) Sponsors
    
    
  • 32 Ways to Give Sponsors Exposure at your Lights On Afterschool Event.
    
    
  • Case Studies - Raising Funds Around Lights On Afterschool
    
    
• Building Community Partnerships to Support Afterschool Programs One of the greatest strengths of afterschool programs and initiatives is their ability to engage the support and involvement of a variety partners. The Afterschool Alliance has created and identified resources to guide you through the process of identifying, engaging and maintaining relationships with partners.
  
  
  • Building Community Partnerships to Support Afterschool Programs: Partnership Toolkits, Resources and Guides
    
    
  • Case Studies:
    
    
    
    • Partnership to Staff Music Afterschool
    • Partnership Results in New Shared-Use Facility
    • Innovative Partnerships Bring Science to Afterschool
    
    
  • Using a Partnership Fair to Find Content Partners
    
    
  • Connecting Business with Afterschool
    
    
  • Communications Tips for Sustaining Partnerships
  
  
• Resources and Afterschool Funding Basics
  
  
  • Most frequently accessed funds for afterschool programs
    
    
    • 21st Century Community Learning Centers
    • Child Care Development Fund
    • Child and Adult Care Food Program
    • Supplemental Education Services
      
      
  • Afterschool Funding At A Glance: Federal, State and Local
    
    
  • Publications on Funding