Grants available from the New York Life Foundation for out-of-school time (OST) programs

The New York Life Foundation is seeking applications for $800,000 in grants to afterschool, summer, or expanded learning programs serving underserved middle-school youth. This is the tenth year of the Foundation’s Aim High grant competition, and this year’s awards will bring the total amount awarded to $14.15 million!

Forty programs will be selected for 1-year, $20,000 general operating grants, based on their ability to help youth transition successfully to ninth grade and to provide academic, social, and emotional supports to youth. All applicants will need to describe how their programs support youth in the transition to the ninth grade. Take a look to see if your program may be a good fit!

The New York Life Foundation invests in middle school OST programs to help economically disadvantaged eighth-graders get to ninth grade on time. Research has shown that for disadvantaged students, more learning time in the form of high-quality afterschool, expanded-day, and summer programs leads to greater achievement, better school attendance, and more engaged students.

Since 2013, the Foundation has invested more than $100 million in national middle school OST efforts The Aim High grants provide a way for the Foundation to support smaller programs in communities across the nation.

The Afterschool Alliance is administering the grant application process on behalf of the Foundation. An expert panel of external reviewers will evaluate applications. Awardees will be notified by the beginning of July, 2026.

Join our webinar on January 15 to learn more about this opportunity. Applications are due February 6, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET; view the full RFP and submit your application online.