New York Life Foundation: Aim High – Supporting Out-of-School Time Programs Serving Disadvantaged Middle School Youth

The New York Life Foundation, in partnership with the Afterschool Alliance, invites out-of-school time (OST) programs to apply for a new competitive grant opportunity to support and bolster the ability of afterschool and summer learning programs to help middle school students make a successful transition from 8th to 9th grade. There are two options for applying:

Two-year programs: These grant funds may be used for technical assistance, capacity-building, enhancing direct service activities, and/or program expansion. Two-year grant applications will need to report indicators of success such as on-time promotion to the 9th grade; school attendance rates; improved behavior, grades, and test scores; and the development of social and emotional skills.

One year programs: Like the two-year grants, these grant funds may be used for technical assistance, capacity-building, enhancing direct service activities, and/or program expansion, but unlike the two-year grants, the one-year grants are specifically intended to help improve the supports provided to children and families in communities that have been impacted by misuse of opioids and other substances. Across the country, in communities struggling with the misuse of opioids and other substances, afterschool and summer learning programs are playing a critical role by fostering protective factors, increasing resilience among young people, supporting positive youth development, and reducing risk factors among children and youth. Grants will help programs build protective and preventive factors (self-esteem, mentorship, and more) and reduce risk factors for youth, understand adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), employ trauma-informed approaches, or provide other supports for youth and families impacted by substance misuse.

Amount: Varies by project type and organizational budget size:

• 2-year grants for afterschool and summer programs with annual program budgets of $250,000 or more and annual organizational budgets of $500,000: Eight grants at $50,000 per year over the span of two years, for a total two-year grant award of $100,000 will be awarded
• 2-year grants for organizations with annual organizational budgets of $250,000 or more: Eight grants at $25,000 per year over the span of two years, for a total two-year grant award of $50,000 will be awarded
• 1-year grants: Ten one-year grants of $15,000 each will be awarded

Eligibility:

• Applicants must hold 501(c)(3) status
• Middle school youth (6th, 7th, 8th graders) must be served
• A high percentage of low-income youth (at least 75%) using Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program criteria must be served
• 1-year grants only: Applicants for the 1-year grants must meet a minimum threshold of 10% of youth served having special needs or disabilities
• Applicants must have an annual budget of $250,000 or more to apply for 2-year grants or $150,000 or more to apply to one-year grants

Note: Applicants that currently receive funding, either directly or indirectly, from the New York Life Foundation are ineligible to apply. This includes:

• National or regional organizations that receive New York Life Foundation funding directly
• Local affiliate organizations or programs that receive any financial support from their national headquarters that originates from New York Life Foundation grants
• Recipients of earlier rounds of Aim High grant funds

Link: https://afterschoolalliance.smapply.io/

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