The OST Office is tasked with improving both the quantity and quality of out-of-school time (OST) programs through targeted grant-making for service providers, as well as coordinating OST efforts across OST-affiliated government agencies. The OST Office is the largest OST grantmaking entity in DC.
The OST Office awards grants to support the quantity of high-quality OST programming for children and youth in DC. OST Office grantees provide programs during the critical hours of 3:00 to 6:00pm during the school year and across the summer months. Grants are awarded in a manner consistent with the OST Commission's Strategic Plan with particular attention to the strategic plan's goals and priorities for serving at-risk and other targeted youth populations, geographic distribution of out-of-school-time programs, and program quality.
Click here for a summary for the OST Office's FY26 grantees.
FY26 Summer Strong DC:
The 2026 Summer Strong DC RFA invites high-performing, fiscally responsible, nonprofit organizations that focus on youth development and have a history of success with increasing participants academic knowledge, skills, and behaviors and serve school age children and youth with summer programs to apply. Organizations applying must serve youth through a positive youth development approach. Organizations may serve children and youth who reside outside the District of Columbia; however, Summer Strong grant funds may only be applied to children and youth who reside within the District. For this RFA, the term youth will be used to describe both children and youth.
Summer programs have been shown to support academic recovery and reduce summer learning loss. The typical summer learning loss experienced in a regular year can often be reduced through participation in a summer program, especially when that program focuses on areas youth enjoy. For the purposes of this RFA, summer programming is defined as a structured, supervised learning, and youth development opportunity offered to a distinct group of District youth during the summer months for a minimum of 5 hours per day, 5 days a week, for 5 consecutive weeks.
1. FY26 OST Summer Strong Grant – Organizations with an annual operating budget greater than $250,000 may apply for the FY26 Summer Strong Grant and request up to $100,000.
2. FY26 OST Summer Strong Small Non-Profit Grant – Organizations with an annual operating budget of $250,000 or less may apply for the FY26 Summer Strong Small Nonprofit Grant and request up to $90,000.
The deadline for application submissions is Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. for the Fiscal Year 2026 Summer Strong DC Program RFA.
To access the RFA, click here.
FY26 Summer Strong DC Information Session:
To support applicants interested in the 2026 Summer Strong DC grant competition, the OST Office will host an Information Session on Tuesday, January 20 at 11:00 AM. This session will provide an overview of the RFA, highlight key requirements, and offer guidance on preparing a strong application. All prospective applicants are encouraged to attend. Click here to join.
FAQs:
You may submit any questions regarding the FY26 Summer Strong DC RFA to [email protected] and answers will be published here on January 30, 2026:
OST Office Grantee Resources:
-
User Guide: Cityspan Grants Management System (updated September 2025)
Other important tools and templates for OST Office grantees can be found here.
For questions or concerns, email [email protected].
DC Government Funding Opportunities:
-
District Grants Clearinghouse - The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism & Partnerships is the electronic clearinghouse for all District of Columbia government grant notices. Stay updated on available funding opportunities.
OST Funding Opportunities:
- 2026 Summer Strong DC - Request for Applications
- Review general grant eligibility requirements here.
