Kate Sandel & Brittany AnuszkiewiczThe Finance Project

November 16, 2007

Finding Funding for After SchoolNew Guides for California

2 New Resources for California Making the Match: Finding Funding

for After School Education and Safety Programs

Getting the Grant: A Guide to Securing Additional

Funding for After School Education and Safety

Programs

Making the Match GuideThe ABCs of ASESUsing the Match to Expand and

Enhance ASES ProgramsStrategy 1: School and

Community Resources Strategy 2: Business and

Foundation SupportStrategy 3: Local Government

Resources Strategy 4:State and Federal

FundingSustaining ASES through

PartnershipsAppendices

Making the Match: Overview• This user-friendly guide is filled with practical information tips and

guidance on:• how to attract and work with school and community partners;• how to work with businesses and foundations• how to adopt a strategic financing approach;• where to find funding, beginning with sources closest to home; and• how to access public and private sectors funding sources

• Includes:– “Examples from the field” of ASES programs and grantees securing

funding and putting the approaches into action– “How to” calculate the value of in-kind and donated goods and services– Tips for success– Detailed appendices with information on federal and state funding

programs

Principles for Financing• Partnerships are important:

– Work with public- and private-sector partners to successfully implement financing strategies

• Know what resources you have and what resources you need:– Identify current funding and in-kind resources– Clarify total funding needs, including needs for specific line items as well as

aggregate – Determine matching requirements

• Don’t just think about the match amount:– Secure matching funding as a part of broader strategic approach towards

financing and sustainability

• Develop diverse portfolio funding, starting in your own backyard: – Use four broad strategies for securing cash and in-kind resources to support

ASES programs– Begin with the sources that are most familiar

Strategies for Generating Matching Funds

• Strategy 1: Accessing school and community resources• Strategy 2: Accessing business and foundation support• Strategy 3: Accessing local government resources• Strategy 4: Accessing state and federal funding

• For Each Strategy, Guide identifies– Potential Partners– Types of resources the partners can provide– Tips for success

Tips for Accessing School and Community Resources

• Identify your best bets• Create an effective “ask”• Be a good school and community partner• Make your ASES program visible in your

community

Tips for Connecting with Businesses

• Find the right champions• Convince partners of the value of ASES• Make it easy to contribute• Ask business leaders to recruit their peers• Sustain active participation

Tips for Accessing Foundation Dollars

• Clearly define what you need and why• Do your homework• Develop a letter of intent• Prepare a winning proposal

Tips for Building Support Among Local Policymakers

• Understand their priorities• Be knowledgeable and become a resource• Be proactive• Be clear and concise• Visit policymakers• Engage them in your program• Get to know their staff• Acknowledge support

Tips for Accessing State and Federal Funding

• Track federal and state funding• Understand how the funds are being spent• Know how allocation decisions are made• Identify and cultivate relationships with key

persons• Create partnerships to expand funding options• Think creatively about how to frame your

program’s work

Getting the Grant: A Grant-Writing Guide

Provides California leaders with guidance on how to develop effective grant proposals

• Outlines considerations for identifying and pursuing grant funding opportunities

• Reviews the key components of a grant proposal and how to make each section succinct and compelling

• Identifies resources that provide examples of quality grant proposals

Developed by The Finance Project

ResourcesMaking the Match: Finding Funding for After

School Education and Safety Programsavailable at:

http://www.financeproject.org/publications/MakingTheMatch.pdf

Getting the Grant: A Guide to Securing Additional Funding for After School Education and Safety

Programsavailable at:

http://www.financeproject.org/publications/FINA_GrantwritingGuide.pdf

Making the Most of Child Nutrition Funding: A Guide for After School Education and Safety Grantees

available at:

http://www.frac.org/CA_Guide/