In partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), SOWA selected 139 organizations to receive $4,575,000 in funding through the 2022 Summer Program Fund. Funds to be received range from $10,000 to $45,000.
We estimate that 10,200 young people across Washington will benefit through participation in funded programs this summer. View the list of recipients.
SOWA sought to deliver an equitable and accessible process with the goals of strengthening diverse organizations to deliver high-quality summer programs and expanding access in underserved communities.
The 139 programs receiving funding represent 32% of the 432 applications received. These programs focus on prioritizing social connections among young people, engaging young people in physical and outdoor activities, being in-person or mostly in-person, and offering summer programs over multiple days and/or multiple weeks. Funding decisions are meant to ensure equitable geographic distribution of funds across the state.
92% of young people served by funded organizations are in the Summer Program Fund’s priority populations (including BIPOC, LGBTQ, migrant/immigrant, youth experiencing homelessness, and youth in poverty).
75% of the staff, leadership, and boards of the funded organizations are in one or more of the focus populations.
To identify potential peer reviewers, we work with expanded learning partners from across the state to provide outreach into communities. We prioritize engagement of BIPOC reviewers who have strong regional representation and also seek those who share identities and/or lived experience with priority youth populations. Among the 75 peer reviewers who reviewed applications for the 2022 Summer Program Fund, 52% identify as BIPOC and 85% share identities and/or lived experience with priority youth populations.
