Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) and The Ford Family Foundation offer Out of School Time Program Grants supporting a three-year structured quality improvement Learning Community for afterschool programs across Oregon. Selected programs receive $25,000–$40,000 per year in general support.

Grants target programs serving middle school youth from low-income families, youth of color, and rural communities with a strong social-emotional learning (SEL) focus. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal entities, government entities, and organizations with fiscal sponsors. The 2026 application deadline is April 30, 2026.

Out of School Time » Oregon Community Foundation Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) and The Ford Family Foundation (TFFF) invite proposals from out-of-school time programs in Oregon to participate in a three-year, highly structured program quality improvement Learning Community. Selected programs will receive $25,000–$40,000 per year in general program support.

This opportunity is designed for programs that: Serve adolescents—particularly middle school youth—from low-income families, youth of color, and/or youth from under‑resourced rural communities. Have a strong social-emotional learning (SEL) focus.

Wish to engage with a program quality framework, receive related professional development, strengthen internal evaluation and organizational learning capacity, and participate fully in a collaborative Learning Community. Click here to review the RFP. Applications will be accepted online starting March 16 and are due April 30, 2026 at 5 p.

m. This grant opportunity opens on March 16, 2026. If you would like to preview the grant application, click here .

An Informational Webinar about this grant opportunity will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 11 a. m. Click here to register .

For more questions, please see the FAQ section at the bottom of this page. Additional background on the Out of School Time Initiative can be found in the evaluation of the program here . For more information, please contact: Alysia Yamasaki, Associate Program Officer for Education: ayamasaki@oregoncf.

org or (503) 227-6846. Belle Cantor, Senior Program Officer for Education and Youth Development K-12: bcantor@oregoncf. org or (503) 227-6846.

For questions, you can email us or choose to schedule a quick one-on-one, 15 minute meeting here . Frequently asked questions about this grant opportunity. Eligibility and Program Fit Are 501(c)(3)s the only organizations eligible to apply?

501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal entities, and government entities are eligible to apply. Additionally, organizations may work with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor to submit an application. Applicants must submit formal paperwork confirming the fiscal sponsor relationship.

Are organizations with current grants from other OCF programs allowed to apply? Yes, an organization may apply to this grant opportunity even if they have current grants at OCF. My organization has previously participated in OCF’s Learning Community?

Am I still eligible for this opportunity? Unless your organization has already participated in a Social Emotional Learning Cohort for the Out-of-School time initiative (Cohorts 2022 & 2024), you are eligible to apply. Do we qualify if SEL is only one component of our programming, not the central focus?

This grant opportunity is deeply connected and focused on SEL strategies and how they support student success (or similar programming that incorporate elements like teamwork, responsibility, emotion, empathy, initiative, and problem-solving). SEL should be a significant aspect of your programming. Please refer to the RFP for additional information.

Does my program need to exclusively serve middle school youth, or can we also serve high school or elementary-age students? Programs may serve students all along the education continuum but must include middle school students. This is a key transition point and a time when youth are making decisions that will impact their future opportunities.

View our research about this here. Please refer to the RFP for additional information. Are summer-only programs eligible?

No, a significant portion of the OST programming must happen during the school year to be eligible. What is the definition of a “group-based, staff-run program” vs. a drop-in program? A group-based, staff-run program is a structured, regularly scheduled program where trained staff deliver organized activities to a consistent group of youth, rather than operating as an unstructured or drop-in space (drop-in program).

If our program serves a mix of youth, do we need to show that we primarily serve low‑income youth, youth of color, or youth from rural communities? Yes, your program should clearly demonstrate that you meaningfully serve adolescents who are low‑income, youth of color, and/or youth from under‑resourced rural communities. What is OCF’s definition of a rural-serving organization?

We define a rural- serving organization as one that focuses on a community with a population of 35,000 or fewer that is NOT directly adjacent to (or part of a) metropolitan area of 50,000 or more. Quality Improvement Expectations Who provides training, coaching, and facilitation?

We work closely with OSU Extension as well as additional coaches and experts who have worked in the youth development space and have extensive knowledge of using a continuous quality improvement tool. What types of program improvements are expected after the assessments?

Our contracted facilitation team will meet with organizations during the January convening to go over each organization’s assessments and support them to develop their own improvement plans. Each organization determines and defines what they want to improve based on their own program data. What are the expectations for learning community participation?

Participation in the learning community is a criterion for renewals. Programs are required to participate in-person at our learning community convenings (kick-off training in October & 2-day convening in January), as well as actively participate in their assessments, program improvement activities, and additional ongoing trainings throughout the year. Please refer to the RFP for additional information.

How many staff must attend training sessions and convenings? Attendance of two staff members (decision-maker and someone familiar with programming) are expected to attend the convenings. Please refer to the RFP for additional information.

Will OCF cover all travel costs for convenings? We do not cover the cost of transportation to and from the convenings, but you may utilize your grant dollars. OCF will directly cover food and hotel accommodations (if needed) at all Learning Community Convenings.

What happens if we cannot attend a required training or convening due to emergencies? Typically, an organization will find someone else to attend the trainings or convenings, however we do understand that emergencies happen and will collaborate with you to problem solve if this arises. Where will in-person trainings and convenings take place?

Each year differs depending on where organizations are located. We do our best to have a location that is easily accessible to everyone throughout the state. Is virtual participation allowed for any required events?

At this time, all Learn Community convenings are in-person. There are some trainings throughout the year with the facilitation team and coaches that are held virtually. How much funding can we apply for each year?

For 2026 programs can request $25,000- $40,000 for this funding opportunity. The award amounts stay the same for all three years of the grant. Please refer to the RFP for additional information.

Is the funding automatically renewed for years two and three? Each year organizations must complete a renewal application. Are there other materials required when applying?

You will be asked to upload attachments that should include a program budget that shows the scope of your Out-of-School Time programing and an organizational budget. What is the deadline for submission? Applications will be accepted from March 16 to April 30, 2026, at 5pm.

What is the review process and timeline for funding decisions? OCF’s Program Officers and a trained advisory committee will review eligible proposals and look for those that best align with this funding opportunity. After this period, OCF Program Officers will develop final grant recommendations for the consideration of the OCF board.

A funding decision will be made in August 2026. Can we submit more than one application if we run multiple programs? Typically, you may only submit one application per organization.

If you feel like you have a unique situation, please reach out to us. I am having trouble with the online application system. Who do I contact for assistance?

Please contact our Grants Administration team at grants@oregoncf. or g.