Funding Sources

About Funding Sources

Funding sources include the broad range of cash sources that have been, or could potentially be, utilized by statewide afterschool networks to finance their work. This includes sources accessed to meet matching requirements, as well as any additional means of cash income to carry out planned activities. Funding for networks can, and should, come from a variety of sources.

Common sources include:

  • State agencies such as departments of education, health and human services
  • Governor’s offices
  • Dedicated funding through the state legislature
  • Local and national foundations
  • United Ways
  • Corporations
  • School-age care coalitions
  • Earned income, such as conference revenue and fundraising

Key Information

  • Nearly all statewide afterschool networks receive funding from government sources. Approximately 15 receive funding from their state’s Department of Education and seven receive funding from their state’s department of health, human services, child and family services or equivalent.
  • About one-third of networks receive funding from one or more corporate or foundation sources (including United Ways).
  • Approximately nine states fund the work of their afterschool network in part through earned income. Sources of earned income include:
    • Conference registration fees
    • Fundraising
    • Membership fees for network partners or afterschool and expanded learning programs
  • Approximately six networks are funded entirely by three or fewer funding sources. At least four networks receive funding from 10 or more sources.
  • Nearly one-third of networks receive some level of funding from their fiscal agent/sponsor.

Strategies to Support Funding Sources

  • Evaluate your current funding mix: What percentage of funding comes from public sources, private sources, earned income or other sources under the network’s control?
  • Assess the flexibility of each funding source individually: For each source, ask is this source restricted to specific program elements or functions?
  • Assess the vulnerability of each funding source individually: For each source, ask over what timeframe is this source expected to be available to me?
  • Identify gaps in types of funding: Use your analysis above to identify gaps in the types of funding that are needed by the network to establish a resilient funding mix. Are new public sources needed? Are new long-term sources needed?
  • Identify new potential funding sources: Research and identify prime candidates of funding sources that fit in to the categories of needed funding.