Each year, quality youth development organizations are vetted and selected to receive funding through NextUp for their afterschool and summer programs. Our volunteer Community Evaluators play a crucial role in expanding access to quality afterschool and summer programs for Richmond youth by reviewing all qualifying applications and selecting programming for the following year.
Approved programs are embedded in Richmond Public Middle Schools and throughout the city at no cost to Richmond youth aged 11 – 19. Selected organizations also gain access to NextUp Network benefits like cost-free training, coaching, and professional development opportunities to build their capacity and program quality.
The RFP Process
Quality youth development programs and organizations operating in the City of Richmond are invited to apply for funding through NextUp. We have multiple funding opportunities for the 2025 – 2026 School Year and Summer 2026:
- Middle School Alliance (MSA): A contracted funding opportunity to embed afterschool programs in Richmond Public Middle Schools from 3:30 – 6:30 Monday through Thursday. Funding is provided by NextUp supporters including individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors in addition to the City of Richmond.
- Positive Youth Development (PYD): A grant from the City of Richmond managed by NextUp that provides funding for Richmond youth aged 11 – 19 to attend afterschool and summer programs or events. Supplemental funding is available for existing programs looking to extend their hours or capacity to serve more youth.
All programs must use funding for programs and events at no cost to Richmond youth. Any organization is welcome to apply to this competitive process with the understanding that approval and requested funding are not guaranteed.
Program Approval
NextUp reviews all applications for initial eligibility. Organizations (non-profit or for-profit) with a primary focus on serving youth move forward in the program selection process.
Volunteer Community Evaluators are given the applications, outlining the intended programming curriculum and funding priorities. Volunteers then score those priorities from one to five based on an evaluation rubric, designed for consistent evaluation, and offer an overall recommendation of “yes” (recommend accepting) or “no” (recommend rejecting). Each proposal is reviewed independently by at least two evaluators. If both evaluators recommend “yes”, the project is approved for funding. If both evaluators recommend “no”, the project is denied. If the evaluators disagree, the proposal is assigned to a third evaluator to break the tie.
Once a project is approved, final awards and funding allotments are determined by cost per participant, projected expenses, and regional industry rates. Middle School Alliance funding is issued by contract and determined by NextUp. Positive Youth Development funding is granted and approved by the City of Richmond.
Programs may accept or reject the final, approved funding allowance.
Note: Even if organizations are not selected for funding, they may be eligible to join the NextUp Network to receive professional development and training only.
Volunteer Community Evaluator, Erin B., shares her experience: “I have enjoyed serving as a community evaluator for Nextup applicants. As someone who has worked closely with the school system in the past and a parent of school-aged children, I know how important it is to have quality afterschool programming for our youth. The Richmond region has so much to offer and the process that Nextup has implemented provides a structured and equitable way to consider opportunities that most benefit our city’s children. I appreciate that we are looking to provide a diverse menu of options for students and consider youth voice in programming as well as the overall benefits for participants. Overall, it has been a wonderful experience working with Nextup and I am proud to be an evaluator.”
Contracting and Compliance Requirements
Once a program is approved and funding is accepted, both Middle School Alliance and Positive Youth Development providers must adhere to rigorous contract terms, including:
- Purchasing and maintaining commercial liability insurance aligned with NextUp’s standards.
- Acquiring and renewing yearly staff background checks aligned with NextUp’s quality standards.
- Providing the program and curriculum as outlined in the original proposal.
- Participating in scheduled and unscheduled program visits.
- Agreeing to NextUp’s funding terms and conditions.
Benefits of Joining the NextUp OST Network
Funding isn’t the only perk of joining the NextUp Network. In-network programs and organizations receive professional development opportunities and training, which builds providers’ capacity to deliver quality programs to more youth.
NextUp aligns with national and state out-of-school time standards set by organizations like the Forum for Youth Investment Weikart Center and Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School-Time. These program standards have firm foundations in social-emotional learning (SEL), trauma-informed practices, and youth voice and choice.
Dr. Traymanesha Lamy, CEO of NextUp shares: “The NextUp Network is filled with experienced youth development leaders and business professionals sharing their time and talents with youth. It’s a gift to partner with more than 150 dedicated professionals to fuel Richmond’s expanded learning system and expand access to quality out-of-school time programs helping to prepare youth for the future.”
NextUp’s Train-the-Trainer Model
Out-of-school time partners in the NextUp Network can become certified in leading Youth Program Quality Improvement (YPQI) training models through the Weikart Center. This highly desired professional development opportunity opens doors for providers to positively transform and grow their whole organization and influence other entities (local, state, and national).
NextUp’s Collective Impact Approach
NextUp convenes and collaborates with OST partners and program providers to help fuel Richmond’s expanded learning system. Together, we connect Richmond youth to out-of-school time programs while building providers’ capacity to deliver quality programming and serve more youth.
Learn more about NextUp and how to support our mission.
