New York Life Foundation grants $1.8 million to out of school time programs focused on helping middle school students transition successfully to 9th grade.

The New York Life Foundation and the Afterschool Alliance today announced $1.8 million in new grants to 40 afterschool, summer, and expanded learning programs serving disadvantaged middle school youth. The funds will go to organizations across the United States. These latest grants bring the total of New York Life Foundation's support for out-of-school-time (OST) programs to $11.55 million over the eight years of its Aim High program. The Aim High grant initiative is part of New York Life Foundation's ongoing investment in OST programs to help middle school youth in under-resourced communities reach the 9th grade on time and better prepared for high school.

Half of this year's 40 grants go to OST programs that support social justice, and to programs dedicated to supporting youth entrepreneurship and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. The remaining grants focus on supporting OST programs' work to help students transition successfully to the 9^th grade. Awarded through a competitive process, the 2024 Aim High grants are going to OST organizations in Washington, D.C. and 20 states: Arizona; California; Connecticut; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Massachusetts; Nebraska; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Ohio; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; Texas; Virginia; and Wyoming.

"Students today face significant academic, social, and emotional challenges, and OST programs provide much-needed support. These programs have a proven track record of helping students do better in school and build the skills they need for their future success," said Heather Nesle, president of the New York Life Foundation, one of the largest corporate funders of bereavement support, and Afterschool Alliance board member. "This year, we're particularly excited to have added grants focused on entrepreneurship, offering opportunities for young people to launch their own businesses, explore careers, and nurture entrepreneurial mindsets, while developing teamwork, planning, and problem-solving skills in the process. All this is invaluable for youth as they prepare for high school, higher education, and careers."

Research shows that participation in high-quality afterschool, expanded day, and summer programs leads to greater academic achievement, better school attendance, and more engaged students.

"As afterschool and summer learning programs struggle with rising costs and federal pandemic relief winds down, the New York Life Foundation's Aim High grant program provides an enormous boost to these programs and the students they serve," said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. "The Afterschool Alliance is honored to continue partnering on this effort. These new grants will help 40 extraordinary programs do even more to support middle school students. We congratulate this year's award recipients and thank the New York Life Foundation for its commitment and generosity."

The 2024 Grant Winners

Ten organizations were awarded two-year grants of $50,000 per year, for a total of $100,000 each:

• Aim High for High School, San Francisco, California
• Jamestown Community Center, San Francisco, California
• Girls Inc. of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
• Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, Inc., Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Soccer Without Borders, Baltimore, Maryland
• Bronx River Art Center, Bronx, New York
• Fresh Youth Initiatives, Inc., New York, New York
• Omega Community Development Corporation, Dayton, Ohio
• Casa Guadalupe Center, Allentown, Pennsylvania
• After-School All-Stars North Texas, Dallas, Texas

Ten organizations were awarded two-year grants of $25,000 per year, for a total of $50,000 each:

• Communities In Schools of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
• Reality Changers, San Diego, California
• Family & Children's Agency, Norwalk, Connecticut
• New American Pathways, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
• viBe Theater Experience, Brooklyn, New York
• Charlotte Community Services Association, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Mighty Writers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Latinitas, Austin, Texas
• Aspire Afterschool Learning, Arlington, Virginia
• ForKids, Chesapeake, Virginia

Ten organizations were awarded one-year grants of $15,000 to support their work with a focus on youth entrepreneurship and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset:

• After-School All-Stars DC, Washington, DC
• BEST Kids, Inc., Washington, DC
• The Immokalee Foundation, Naples, Florida
• Kismet of Kings, Jersey City, New Jersey
• Morrison Mentors, Inc., Hempstead, New York
• Women's Housing & Economic Development Corporation, Bronx, New York
• Homeless No More, Columbia, South Carolina
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, Houston, Texas
• Community Outreach Coalition, Portsmouth, Virginia
• Evanston Youth Club for Boys & Girls, Evanston, Wyoming

Ten organizations were awarded one-year grants of $15,000 to support their work to advance social justice:

• Literacy Connects, Tucson, Arizona
• Generation Music & Arts Academy, San Lorenzo, California
• Many Languages One Voice, Washington, DC
• The Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation, St. Petersburg, Florida
• Citizens for a Sustainable Future, Inc., Tallahassee, Florida
• Summerbridge Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
• Love Your Magic, Inc., Lynn, Massachusetts
• Musica Franklin, Greenfield, Massachusetts
• Visionary Youth, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Colaborativa La Milpa, Asheville, North Carolina

The Afterschool Alliance convened a selection committee of experts in the OST field, including youth, to assess applications and make grant recommendations.

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