Rising Together with our Community: Aspire's Response to AmeriCorps Funding Cuts

On April 28th, Aspire was notified that our AmeriCorps funding was cut and we needed to cease our AmeriCorps program effective immediately. This impacted the 17 Aspire AmeriCorps members who serve our students every day and the 150 students and their families who rely on Aspire for a no-cost safe place to be out of school time and robust academic afterschool support.

We’ve launched a fundraising campaign, Rising Together, to help close the funding gap, support our students and families, and sustain and strengthen our work this year and beyond.

Media coverage

Media Coverage on Aspire and AmeriCorps Cuts

June 17, 2025

Follow along with Aspire in the news! We’ll update this page periodically. For media/press inquiries, please contact Aspire’s Executive Director, Paula Fynboh, at paula@aspireafterschool.org or…

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A photo from the middle school classroom

Washington Post Article: An after-school program in Trump’s backyard struggles to survive DOGE cuts

June 3, 2025

Aspire was honored to recently be featured in a Washington Post article that highlighted the impact of AmeriCorps funding cuts on our students, AmeriCorps members,…

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Rising Together: Update 2

Updates on AmeriCorps Funding Cuts: Rising Together with our Community

May 6, 2025

Since Aspire was impacted by DOGE cuts to AmeriCorps on April 28th, we have finalized a plan that will allow us to continue serving and…

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Spread the word

Spread the Word and Make Your Voice Heard

May 6, 2025

Thank you for your partnership and support of Aspire! We’ve put together this toolkit with resources you can use to advocate for Aspire and speak…

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Fundraising toolkit

Rising Together Fundraising Toolkit

May 6, 2025

Thank you for your partnership and support of Aspire! We’ve put together this toolkit with ideas and sample language that you can use to help…

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One pager and FAQs

Impact of AmeriCorps Cuts on Aspire

May 6, 2025

Who is Aspire?  Aspire Afterschool Learning is a nonprofit in Arlington, Virginia that provides comprehensive no-cost afterschool and summer learning programming to historically underserved 3rd-8th…

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