Beyond School Bells, a program of Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, is excited to announce a new round of competitive, 2025-26 funding to support Nebraska’s K-12 afterschool and summer Expanded Learning Opportunity (ELO) programs.

Our Catalyst Funding is designed for established K-12 ELO programs working to provide high-quality, locally sustainable learning experiences that inspire young people and build the skills they need to become Nebraska’s future leaders.

Building on the legacy of our Partner and Leverage Grants, Catalyst Funding is designed to reflect the evolving needs of the field. In addition to core operational support and funding for community-driven innovation, grantees will be part of a statewide ELO learning community supported by BSB. This community will offer:
- Regular opportunities to share best practices
- Coaching and technical assistance
- Virtual and in-person gatherings
- Resources to support long-term sustainability and alignment with statewide goals, including workforce development, literacy, and attendance.

The RFP will be released on June 20, with applications due by August 15. Funding will run from October 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026.

In this virtual webinar on Monday, June 16 at noon (CST), the BSB team will provide more details about this new funding opportunity.