Youth program providers are one of the backbones of American society, but they face a significant challenge.

These programs are led by innovators, risk-takers, and visionaries—people who see beyond the present and work tirelessly to transform our children, one day and one child at a time. They care deeply about kids, often prioritizing their well-being over their financial bottom line.

However, the reality is that a solid “financial bottom line” is essential for sustaining this positive impact over time. They need more support. Much more support. I know because I was a youth program provider.

So how do they get this much-needed support? 

Well, you have to tell your story—a story that includes both the narrative and the numbers. Often, the narrative is easier to tell than the numbers. 

Taking the attention of these dedicated individuals away from their mission to handle the administrative work of proving their success to grant makers is a difficult task. No one started a youth program because they loved gathering data points and writing reports. But to build something sustainable, that is exactly what is needed.

Balancing the act of changing a child’s life and tracking that impact can feel like burning the candle at both ends, especially if you don’t have the right tools.

But let me say this: While your unique thumbprint on your students is irreplaceable, the work of tracking metrics and reporting impact can be streamlined.

This is why AfterSchool HQ exists. We believe that what we do goes beyond just creating software to make things easier. It’s a movement to empower innovators to change the life trajectory of millions of young people.

Personally, I am indebted to the people who invested their time in me after school, in the evenings, on weekends, and during summers. They made me who I am today.

Here’s what we believe:

• More students in youth programs means a change in their individual lives, their communities, and society as a whole.
• To have more students in programs, we must have more funded programs. Without funding, these programs can’t survive and thrive.
• To get more funding, existing programs need to quantify their impact. Funders need to see the effectiveness of a program to invest in it.

That’s why our mission is to make it easier for youth program providers to report their impact, secure funding, and stay funded, resulting in more students reaching their potential in life.

Imagine you have to choose between two programs to invest in.

One says:

The other says: 

One tells what you hope to do, while the other says what you are already doing and implies that with more funding, they could help even more students. The second statement not only shows specific outcomes but also highlights a lasting impact by fostering a love for reading.

Which one would you invest in?

With that in mind, get out there and tell your story. Use tools like AfterSchool HQ to help you do that. Don’t burn the candle at both ends. Focus on your vision and get the support you need to track your impact.

A visionary who sees the need to reach students today and the need to create sustainability in order to reach students tomorrow is the one who leaves a strong legacy of impact that won’t be forgotten.