Capacity Building & Funding Opportunities

Current and upcoming grants for afterschool and youth programs, including federal, state, and private funding. You’ll find deadlines, eligibility details, and helpful links to help you secure funding.

State & Federal Grants Sustainability Practices GRant WRiting One-on-One Consultation OTher Resources

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SPEAR: Sustainable Programs for Education and Afterschool Resources

A one-stop platform where educators and community leaders can find state & federal grant programs, sustainability practices, and grant writing resources. SPEAR provides easy-to-use tools and expert guidance, whether you’re starting, running, or expanding your program

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If your organization is interested in funding from different sources, fill out our Questionnaire to get a one-on-one consultation.

Funding Consultation

ACT Now and the Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY) work together, under contract with the Illinois Department of Human Services, to support youth-serving organizations across the state to expand capacity.

Other Funding Tools

The Afterschool Alliance’s Funding Database allows you to search for funding by state, grade level, and program area, as well as filter by funding type (private or government). Application deadlines, eligibility requirements, and a brief description of the opportunities are available at a glance, and one click will get you to the details of the funding announcement.

Visit the Funding Database

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has shared its FY2023 – 2026 Funding Opportunities Planning Calendar, which aims to inform entities of expected release dates for applications. This calendar can also help organizations and entities determine which grants they may be eligible for. This schedule will be updated monthly.​​

View the Funding Calendar

The BOOST Funding page is a comprehensive compilation of available funding opportunities including grants, scholarships, awards, and contests to support your school and/or programs.

Visit BOOST Funding

STEMfinity aims to promote wider access to STEM education throughout the nation. They recognize that educators require access to diverse funding sources to equip their students with the latest and most effective hands-on STEM enrichment products. They have compiled STEM grants by state and also share free STEM Grant Writing Assistance.

View STEMfinity Illinois grants