(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn announced $1.5 million in grants to local nonprofits through the Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST Office) 2025 Summer Strong DC Grant Competition. Mayor Bowser also encouraged qualifying families to apply for the Learn24 Out of School Time Youth Scholarship Program, administered by the OST Office in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
“Through the Summer Strong DC Grants, we are making critical investments in our young people by giving them access to high-quality programs that foster learning, creativity, and personal growth,” said Mayor Bowser. “From STEM and the arts to sports and community service, these opportunities help students stay engaged, build new skills, and thrive beyond the classroom.”
The Summer Strong DC Grant Competition provides up to $100,000 in grants to 22 nonprofits offering high-quality summer programs for District school-aged youth. This funding is expected to serve more than 1,000 DC students with programming including academic enrichment, sports and recreation, arts and culture, and field trips.
“Just as we have made DCPS the fastest improving urban school district in the country through strategic investment in effective programs with a laser-focus on supporting our children, we are investing in out of school time programs with the same diligence,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. “These scholarship funds and grants will provide children and youth with enriching activities that will keep them on a positive trajectory while school is out.”
After a rigorous review process, the following organizations were selected to receive grant funding:
- Rocketship Public Schools DC
- Special Olympics District of Columbia Inc
- The House, Inc.
- Washington Global Public Charter School
- MJT-TV Excel, Inc.
- PLOE Placing Love Over Everything
- SciTech2U Inc
- The Difference Society
- Connected To Culture
- OpenWise Learning
- American Biotechnology Association, Inc.
- Collaborative Solutions for Communities
- Angels of Hope Ministries, Inc.
- FRESHFARM Markets
- The Salvation Army
- Two Rivers Public Charter School
- Washington Inner City Lacrosse Foundation (WINNERS Lacrosse)
- Raising A Village Foundation
- George Washington University
- Atlas Performing Arts Center
- Chavez Schools for Public Policy - Public Charter School
- Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School
Families can find select summer Out of School Time (OST) programs on the My Out of School Time DC (MOST-DC) portal, a new online platform designed to make it easier for families to find and register for afterschool and summer programs. The portal, available at most.dc.gov, serves as a one-stop shop for parents to explore OST programs for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
In addition to Summer Strong DC Grants, the OST Office is providing $25.1 million in grants this fiscal year to 125 organizations, funding out-of-school time programs for an estimated 15,000 young people throughout the year.
The Learn24 Out of School Time Youth Scholarship Program provides direct support to qualifying families through scholarships administered in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The scholarships provide funding to help students and their families access fee-based programs they need to strengthen their education, health, and well-being outside of school. Applications are currently open and are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply here.
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