Support a Special Project

Working together, we can make a big difference.

Investments by partners are critical to our success in changing the lives of children. Whether through a grant, sponsorship, or in-kind donation, we are grateful for the opportunities to work with others to help scale our reach and impact. Each year public funding covers around 50% of our annual operating expenses - so we depend on individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors to cover everything else from salaries to technology, to staff training, rent and supplies. 

Like any successful venture, we need investors who share our values, believe in our mission, and support our model for growth. We can’t offer stock options, but instead, your ROI is measured by the number of kids who are set to soar through school and life.

Here we highlight opportunities to support special projects – investments in the future of WINGS and in the future of the communities and kids we serve. Together, we can break help change the systems of poverty because all kids deserve the opportunity to succeed.

Special Project Giving Opportunities

Provide a Scholarship

Every child who attends WINGS Afterschool does so at NO COST to them or their families. Participating students are required to commit to full-time attendance and receive nearly 500 hours of dedicated programming each year. Instead of going home to an empty apartment or the temptations of the streets, a scholarship means one more child will find smiling faces and a healthy snack after school. One more child will be surrounded by caring role models who provide constant encouragement. One more child will learn to understand their emotions, behave responsibly, build rewarding relationships, and make good decisions – skills that will last a lifetime. Change a child’s life with an annual investment of $3,600 or a monthly gift of $300. 

Sponsor an Enrichment Program

CHOICE TIME

At each direct service site, WINGS offers Choice Time to all students by collaborating with experts in the community. From yoga, dance, or lacrosse to earth science, sound mixing, or chess - WINGS kids have the opportunity to experience a variety of enrichment activities - often for the very first time.

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips are used to introduce our kids to museums, parks, colleges, and other local attractions to supplement our curriculum and support the overall learning objectives. Field trips provide meaningful opportunities - core memories for our kids. The cost of a field trip can add up quickly – particularly admission tickets and bus transportation. Current annual budget: $1,500 per school which only covers a trip to a free location like a public park or the beach. With additional funding, our kids can experience aquariums, museums, or sporting events.

Invest in Capacity and Growth

Supporting our organizational capacity helps improve our effectiveness, financial stability, program quality, and program research and development. An investment in our organizational capacity can underwrite training, fund a position, or help us expand to a new area as we work to spread our WINGS Across America!

WINGS LEADER TRAINING

College students are recruited as mentors to a small groups of kids in the program. The 130 college students we hire each year are important role models for our kids. We prioritize recruiting members from the geographic and demographic communities where we operate.

WINGS Leaders are highly trained so they can model positive social and emotional skills with supportive and engaging techniques. Each WINGS Leader receives an initial 85 hours of training plus additional training and coaching throughout the year. Training topics include: positive communication with kids, positive reinforcement, using behavior techniques with empathy, child development stages, active listening, and implementing social emotional skill building through teachable moments. Annual cost for WINGS Leader training: $130,000. An investment in this training directly benefits the kids we serve but is also an extraordinary investment in future educators and leaders as the WINGS Leaders will carry their new skills and work experience into their work after college.

PARTNER PROJECTS

We seamlessly integrate social emotional learning into various programs, whether in schools, afterschool programs or summer camps. Our mission is to assist organizations in establishing high-quality, impactful social emotional learning initiatives - and we're committed to spreading our wings in partnership with others. Project costs: $20,000-50,000 a year per site depending on the scope of the project. With additional funding we can bring WINGS to new areas and schools.