As the mid-winter approaches, and the February cold starts to set in we are reminded of spreadsheets and budget projections for the coming year. Out-of-school time programs large and small need balanced budgets that both maintain what is necessary, and at the same time foster innovation and growth in programming. Resoundingly, Afterschool Professionals have risen to the challenge to offer cutting edge activities that are relatable and interesting to the children and youth served. 

When thinking about the basic program expenses: salary, supplies, facilities, etc., some of those are fixed costs, while others are variable such as salaries and supplies. These costs occupy a substantial portion of the budget with little to no wiggle room for extras, or in some cases the larger organization gets the surplus from the afterschool program to help run the other programs offered to the community. Program improvements come in bursts, often at the beginning of the year and then again after the holidays to get through winter. Parents and the community may donate some supplies here and there. While these efforts keep programs on track with varying levels of quality, they are sporadic and unsustainable due to their unpredictability. 

This is the season to be thinking about innovation in the coming year. What strategic investments are going to be made on staffing, perhaps content specialists or family liaison, etc.? What types of programming can be developed or aligned to help children recover from ongoing pandemic learning loss? What types of partnerships do you want to create now to help co-facilitate or co-fund some aspect of programming in the coming year? Winter is a time for imagination, to ask questions and reflect. As leaders in the field, taking time for these things is not just what’s necessary, it is what fosters improvement and innovation in programming. 

Re-allocating expenses, finding efficiencies and streamlining programming, thinking of what a cornerstone or niche area of your program will be. Reaching out within the community and finding other programs offering services, what is their niche area and is there room for collaboration? Before getting to the spreadsheets take some time to reflect, be open to big ideas – as most will start small and have intentionality in your program planning.