Impact of AmeriCorps Cuts on Aspire
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 grade students. We support and connect families, schools, and communities.
What’s happening?
DOGE recently cut over 40% of all AmeriCorps programs for the current year, impacting 1,000+ organizations and 30,000+ AmeriCorps members nationwide. On Monday, April 28th, Aspire was notified that our 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.
What does Aspire do in the Arlington community?
Aspire’s afterschool program is the only daily academic afterschool program offered at no cost for 3rd-8th graders in Arlington. As one parent said, “I looked into lots of other [afterschool] programs and they wanted $10 more an hour than I make.”
We provide a safe place after school, comprehensive educational programming that is preparing students for high school and beyond, parent/caregiver support, and so much more. We have deep partnerships with other institutions across the county – schools, parents, businesses, affordable housing providers, Arlington County, and other nonprofits. We often serve as a connector/facilitator role for our families and these other entities. In the past two years, we’ve opened new afterschool sites at two Arlington Public Schools to fill gaps in services and meet community needs.
One parent shared that Aspire is “a program that helps my children, unites the community, and is an oasis for parents that work and don’t have another place for their children to be safe.”
Why is this urgent right now?
This is a significant loss in funding for Aspire (approximately 30% of our budget). Prior to these cuts, we were serving a record 150 students this school year and were on track to serve a record 140 this summer. We still had over 30 students on our waiting list. The need in Arlington is significant. These funding cuts make it harder for us to meet that need. While we will continue to offer our programs and are deeply committed to serving our students, the cuts may force us to serve fewer students and/or scale back programming.
If we do not raise funds to fill the gap, one-third of our current students and their families will be without safe, high-quality academic afterschool and summer programming. This comes at a time when many of our students are entering our program two or more grade levels behind. Without Aspire, promising young people will be left behind.
To close the gap for this summer and the 2025-2026 school year, we will need to raise $350,000.
How can people help?
Make a donation to Aspire. Your contribution will help us close the funding gap, support students, and sustain and strengthen our work this year and beyond. Donate at https://givebutter.com/support-aspire-rising-together.
Spread the word about the impacts of these cuts. Visit our website for the latest resources and information: https://www.aspireafterschool.org/aspires-response-to-americorps-funding-cuts/.