Program Funding & Financial Assistance FAQ
At BGCGS, we know that questions about program funding and site differences can sometimes come up in casual conversations, online discussions, or social media comments.
This FAQ was created to provide families, staff, partners, and community members with accurate information directly fromus, so everyone has a clear and reliable place to reference and share information about how BGCGS is funded, how district partnerships work, why some programs may have different fees or no-cost options, and what financial assistance may be available to families.
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Why Weed Elementary and Mount Shasta programs are structured differently
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How district funding, ELOP, SAFE, grants, and restricted funding may impact each site
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Why family fees are still necessary at some programs
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How BGCGS uses funding and why every dollar goes back into programming
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What financial assistance options are available, including SCCC support for summer and holiday programs
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What families can do to help support lower-cost programming in the future
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Who to contact with questions or to apply for assistance
We encourage you to read through the full FAQ, as we have tried to answer the most common questions as thoroughly and transparently as possible. Because many of these topics are connected, the information you are looking for may be included under a question that does not exactly match the title or wording you had in mind. Our goal is for this page to serve as a helpful starting point for understanding our funding structure, site differences, program costs, and available family support options.
Understanding BGCGS, District Partnerships, Program Fees, Financial Assistance, ELOP, and SAFE
Why are the Weed Elementary and Mount Shasta programs structured differently?
The Weed Elementary School program and the Mount Shasta Union School District programs are structured differently because they are connected to different school districts, different funding models, different program requirements, and different partnership agreements.
Afterschool and expanded learning funding is not the same for every district. Some districts qualify for funding in ways that are tied more directly to student need, district size, community demographics, state program requirements, or specific funding categories. These differences can affect how a program must be structured, how funds can be used, whether family fees are allowed or needed, and what requirements must be followed.
For Weed Elementary, BGCGS is expanding into a new district and a new community partnership. That program is being supported through specific Weed Elementary School District funding, including SAFE funding, community support, and restricted funding connected directly to that site, that district, and the needs of Weed families. Because these funds are connected to the Weed Elementary program and its specific funding structure, the Weed Elementary afterschool program is planned to be offered at no cost to Weed families.
The Mount Shasta programs operate under a different and longer-standing partnership model with Mount Shasta Union School District. BGCGS does receive district support from MSUSD as part of MSUSD’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program funding, commonly known as ELOP, but family fees and financial assistance remain part of the overall funding structure. These fees help BGCGS cover the full cost of operating safe, high-quality programs, including staffing, staff training, supervision, safety requirements, supplies, insurance, administrative support, program materials, and expanded opportunities for members.
It is important to understand that one site is not paying for another site. Funding, staffing, administrative time, and program expenses are allocated proportionately based on the site, program, and funding source. Restricted funds connected to a specific district or site must be used for that purpose and cannot simply be moved to another program.
Put simply: different districts qualify for and use afterschool funding in different ways. BGCGS must follow the rules, restrictions, and agreements connected to each district and funding source while also making sure each program is financially responsible, safe, and sustainable. Our goal across all sites is the same: to provide affordable, accessible, high-quality afterschool programming for the youth and families we serve.
Is BGCGS choosing one community over another?
No. BGCGS is committed to serving youth across Siskiyou County.
Expanding to Weed Elementary does not reduce our commitment to Mount Shasta families. It is part of our larger mission to increase access to safe and supportive afterschool care for more children in our region.
Because each community and district has different needs, funding structures, facilities, and program requirements, the programs may not look exactly the same. However, our mission, safety standards, and commitment to youth remain consistent across all BGCGS sites.
The goal is not to take resources from one community to serve another. The goal is to build stronger partnerships, expand service responsibly, and increase the overall funding and support available for youth programs throughout our region.
If Weed families do not pay, does that mean Mount Shasta families are paying for Weed?
No. Mount Shasta family fees are not being used to pay for Weed Elementary families to attend for free.
The Weed program is being funded through a different structure that includes district-specific and restricted funding connected to the Weed Elementary expansion. Those funds are intended for that program and are separate from Mount Shasta family fees.
BGCGS also receives donations, grants, and community support that may be restricted to a specific site, program, or purpose. When funding is restricted, BGCGS is required to use it as intended. When funding is unrestricted or intended to support the organization broadly, BGCGS uses it to support programs across sites based on operational needs, sustainability, and service to youth.
Why can’t funding for Weed just be used to make Mount Shasta programs free too?
Most public, district, grant, and donor funding is restricted. That means it is designated for a specific purpose, population, district, site, or program.
Funding connected to Weed Elementary is intended to support the Weed Elementary afterschool program. It cannot automatically be used to offset costs for Mount Shasta programs unless the funder, district, and agreement specifically allow that.
Some external grants or community partners may choose to support one specific site, while others support BGCGS as a whole. The majority of broad organizational funding is used to strengthen and sustain programs across BGCGS sites.
As BGCGS expands partnerships, including the Weed Elementary partnership, our hope is that this growth will help us secure additional funding, build stronger community support, and improve our overall financial ability to support lower-cost, high-quality programming across the organization.
Who decides how district funding is spent?
School districts are responsible for managing their public education funding, including state expanded learning funds such as ELOP. BGCGS may partner with a district to provide programming, but the district remains responsible for its own funding decisions, compliance requirements, and public funding obligations.
BGCGS is responsible for managing the funds it receives according to the terms of each agreement, grant, donation, or contract.
This means money connected to one district, site, or program usually cannot simply be moved to another district, site, or program.
Does BGCGS decide how all ELOP, SAFE, or district money is spent?
No. ELOP, SAFE, and similar public funding streams are generally connected to school districts, county offices of education, or local educational agencies. BGCGS may receive funding through a contract, partnership agreement, grant, reimbursement, or other approved structure to provide services.
When BGCGS receives funding, it must be used according to the specific purpose, restrictions, and agreement tied to that funding.
BGCGS does not control all district or state expanded learning funds. We work within the agreements and funding structures established for each program site.
Why do families pay fees at some BGCGS sites?
Family fees help cover the real cost of operating high-quality, safe, and consistent afterschool and summer programs.
These costs include staff wages, payroll costs, staff training, safety and compliance requirements, program supplies, food and snacks when applicable, insurance, administrative systems, facility-related needs, transportation or field trip costs when applicable, and enrichment activities.
BGCGS does not set fees higher than necessary. Any fees charged are based on what is needed to remain operational, meet safety and staffing requirements, and continue providing reliable programming for families.
Are BGCGS fees the full cost of care?
No. In most cases, family fees do not cover the full cost of providing care.
BGCGS relies on fundraising, grants, donations, and district partnerships to keep programs more affordable for families. Without those additional funding sources, program fees would need to be much higher.
Every dollar BGCGS receives is put back into our programs, operations, staffing, safety requirements, and services for youth.
What financial assistance options are available?
BGCGS offers financial assistance options for families who qualify or who are experiencing financial hardship. For summer and holiday programs, families may also be eligible for subsidized child care assistance through Siskiyou Child Care Council, also known as SCCC.
Financial assistance may be available through:
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Siskiyou Child Care Council subsidized child care assistance for qualifying summer and holiday program participants
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BGCGS financial assistance
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Donor-supported scholarship funds when available
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Payment plan options for qualifying program registrations
Families who need support are encouraged to contact BGCGS and SCCC early, especially for summer and holiday programs, so there is enough time to complete the required application process before program begins.
Does BGCGS accept Siskiyou Child Care Council assistance for summer and holiday programs?
Yes. BGCGS summer and holiday programs qualify for the Siskiyou Child Care Council subsidized child care assistance program.
To qualify through SCCC, all eligible parents or guardians in the household must be working, and household income must fall below the income limits set by SCCC.
For 2026, the SCCC income qualifications provided are:
Additional eligibility criteria can be found through Siskiyou Child Care Council.
If your household qualifies, you must apply directly through SCCC by calling:
Siskiyou Child Care Council:
Phone: (530) 938-2748
What if my family does not qualify for SCCC assistance?
If your family does not qualify for assistance through SCCC, you may still be eligible for support through BGCGS.
Families can complete the BGCGS Financial Assistance Application and return it with the required documentation to:
BGCGS financial assistance is based on available funding, program capacity, family need, and required documentation. While assistance is not guaranteed, we encourage families to reach out if cost is a barrier.
For members attending five weeks or more, BGCGS also offers installment payment plan.
Does BGCGS make a profit from afterschool programs?
No. BGCGS is a nonprofit organization. Program revenue is used to support program operations, staffing, supplies, safety requirements, and services for youth.
BGCGS does not make a profit from afterschool care. Every dollar is put back into our programs and mission. This includes staffing, safety compliance, program supplies, training, insurance, administrative systems, and the day-to-day costs required to keep programs running.
Any family fees are set at the level needed to support operations and maintain safe, consistent programming. They are not designed to generate profit.
Does BGCGS receive funding from Boys & Girls Clubs of America?
No. BGCGS does not receive automatic operating funding from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides national affiliation, standards, training, resources, safety requirements, and support systems, but our local Club is responsible for raising the money needed to operate programs in our community.
All fundraising, donor outreach, grant writing, events, and sustainability planning are done locally by BGCGS. We are responsible for securing the funds needed to operate and grow our programs.
What is BGCGS doing to keep programs affordable?
BGCGS works year-round to keep programs as affordable as possible by applying for grants, fundraising locally, building school district partnerships, seeking donor support, offering financial assistance when possible, keeping fees lower than the actual cost of care, advocating for sustainable funding for rural youth programs, and expanding partnerships that help reduce costs for families.
We understand that childcare and afterschool costs are a real concern for families. Affordability remains a major priority for our organization.
As we build new partnerships, including the Weed Elementary partnership, we hope to increase community awareness, strengthen our grant opportunities, and secure additional support that can improve BGCGS’s overall financial sustainability and help keep programs as affordable as possible.
What can families do to help support lower-cost programming?
Families can help by completing school district forms and surveys on time, asking their school office if they are unsure whether a form is required, reaching out to BGCGS about financial assistance options, supporting local fundraisers when possible, sharing accurate information with other families, and contacting BGCGS directly with questions before relying on social media comments or assumptions.
Families who are able can also help by making a donation, participating in fundraisers, connecting BGCGS with local businesses or community partners, or sharing ideas for potential donors, grants, sponsorships, or funding opportunities.
Small actions can make a meaningful difference, especially in rural communities where funding, enrollment, reported student need, donations, and community connections can directly impact future program options.
Important note for MSUSD families
Please make sure you complete all MSUSD forms, household income surveys, free/reduced meal forms, or other school funding surveys when they are sent out.
These forms help the district accurately report student needs and may impact future funding that could support expanded learning, afterschool care, summer programming, and lower costs for families. Even if you do not personally need assistance, completing the forms accurately and on time can help support the entire school community.
More About BGCGS and Afterschool Funding
Who is the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Shasta?
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Shasta is a local, independent nonprofit organization serving youth and families in Siskiyou County.
We are affiliated with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, but we are locally governed, locally operated, and locally funded. This means we do not receive automatic operating funding from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Our local organization is responsible for raising and managing the funds needed to operate our programs.
Our funding comes from a combination of sources, including school district partnerships, grants, donations, fundraising events, family membership and program fees, community partnerships, and restricted funding tied to specific programs, sites, or purposes.
Some funding is restricted to specific sites or programs because of the way the district agreement, donor gift, grant, or community partnership is structured. Other funding is used more broadly to support BGCGS programs across sites. In all cases, BGCGS uses funding to support youth programs, staffing, safety, operations, and long-term sustainability.
What is ELOP?
ELOP stands for Expanded Learning Opportunities Program. It is a California state-funded program that provides funding for afterschool and summer enrichment programs for students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade.
ELOP funding is generally connected to the school district or local educational agency, not directly to BGCGS. In many cases, a school district may partner with an organization like BGCGS to help operate expanded learning programs for students.
What is SAFE?
SAFE stands for Siskiyou After School for Everyone. SAFE is connected to expanded learning programming in Siskiyou County and provides academic support, quality expanded learning opportunities, and fitness promotion for students in a safe and positive environment.
SAFE, ELOP, and other expanded learning funding streams can overlap or work together, but they are not always the same thing. Different districts may participate in or access these programs differently depending on their eligibility, structure, funding, and program needs.
What does it mean that districts may have different funding tiers?
Some of the differences between Weed Elementary and Mount Shasta Union School District are connected to how districts qualify for state funding.
California’s ELOP funding is tied to district-level data, including factors such as Average Daily Attendance and Unduplicated Pupil Percentage, often called UPP. UPP generally includes students who are English learners, foster youth, homeless youth, or eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Because of this, districts may fall into different funding categories, sometimes described as Tier 1 or Tier 2. These categories can affect funding levels, requirements, access expectations, and whether a district has enough funding to offer expanded learning programs at no cost to families.
This is one reason programs may look different between Weed Elementary School and Mount Shasta Union School District. The difference is not based on BGCGS choosing one community over another. It is connected to how each district qualifies, how funding is awarded, and what restrictions apply to that funding.
Is BGCGS responsible for whether a district is Tier 1 or Tier 2?
No. BGCGS does not determine a school district’s funding tier, eligibility category, or state funding level.
Those determinations are based on school district data, state formulas, student eligibility information, and reporting requirements. BGCGS can partner with districts to provide programming, but the district’s funding status is determined through state and district-level information, not by BGCGS.
BGCGS’s role is to work within each district’s funding structure and partnership agreement to provide the strongest, safest, and most affordable program possible.
Why is this so complicated?
Afterschool funding in California is complex. Programs may involve multiple funding sources, including ELOP, SAFE, district funds, grants, donations, family fees, and other restricted sources.
Because each funding source has its own rules, it is not always possible to compare one district’s program directly to another district’s program. A no-cost program in one district does not automatically mean the same funding is available in another district.
Where can families go with questions?
We encourage families to reach out directly if they have questions about funding, fees, financial assistance, registration, or program structure.
Online conversations can sometimes lead to confusion, especially when different districts and funding streams are being discussed at the same time. We are always happy to answer questions directly and provide accurate information.
Contact BGCGS:
Email: info@bgcgreatershasta.org
Office Phone: (530) 220-7623
How does BGCGS determine staff wages and salaries?
BGCGS is a board-governed nonprofit organization, and staff wages and salaries are reviewed through organizational budgeting, leadership oversight, and board-approved financial planning.
We work to ensure that staff are paid fairly and appropriately based on their position, job responsibilities, experience, leadership expectations, and the local employment market. We also consider standard rates for similar roles and the specific requirements of working in youth development, including safety, supervision, behavior support, family communication, program planning, compliance, and site leadership.
Our staff do much more than provide basic supervision. They are responsible for creating safe, structured, supportive environments for youth, managing daily program operations, supporting positive behavior, communicating with families, meeting required safety standards, and helping ensure our programs remain high-quality and sustainable. Staff wages and salaries are reviewed with these responsibilities in mind.
Are staff and administrative costs shared between sites?
BGCGS is a board-governed nonprofit organization, and all site and program budgets are reviewed as part of responsible financial oversight and planning. Staffing and administrative costs are allocated proportionately based on each site, program, and funding source. This means expenses are assigned according to where the work is being done and which program or site is being supported.
One site is not paying for another site’s program. If staff time, administrative support, supplies, or program expenses are connected to a specific site or program, those costs are tracked and allocated accordingly. Shared administrative costs are also divided proportionately so that each program reflects its appropriate share of operating expenses.
Why are staffing and administrative costs included in program budgets?
Staffing and administrative costs are essential parts of operating a safe, compliant, and high-quality youth program. As a board-governed nonprofit, BGCGS is responsible for ensuring that each program budget reflects the full cost of operating responsibly and sustainably.
Beyond daily staff supervision, BGCGS must account for program leadership, payroll, registration systems, family communication, safety compliance, reporting, insurance, training, supplies, financial oversight, and required administrative support.
These costs help ensure that each site can operate responsibly, meet required standards, support families, and provide consistent programming for members. Including these expenses in program budgets gives a more accurate picture of what it truly costs to run each site and program.
How can community members have a larger voice in organizational decisions?
BGCGS is a board-governed nonprofit organization, which means major organizational decisions are guided by our mission, budget, legal requirements, funding restrictions, staff leadership, and Board of Directors oversight.
We welcome community involvement and value thoughtful input from families, partners, and supporters. For individuals who are interested in having a larger role in organizational governance, strategic planning, financial oversight, and long-term decision-making, applying to serve on the BGCGS Board of Directors is one way to become more directly involved.
Board service is a meaningful commitment and includes responsibilities such as attending meetings, supporting the mission of the Club, helping with fundraising and community connections, reviewing organizational priorities, and participating in responsible oversight of the nonprofit.
Community members who are interested in learning more about board service or future board openings are welcome to contact BGCGS for more information.
Our Bottom Line
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Shasta is committed to transparency, affordability, and service to local youth. While different programs may be funded and structured differently based on district partnerships, funding requirements, restricted funds, and community needs, our mission remains the same: to provide safe, positive, high-quality programs that support kids, families, schools, and communities across Siskiyou County.
BGCGS is an independent, locally governed nonprofit organization. We are part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America network and follow required safety, training, and program standards, but we do not receive automatic national funding to operate our local programs. We are responsible for raising the funds needed to operate locally through district partnerships, grants, donations, events, community support, and program fees when applicable.
Every dollar is put back into operating and strengthening programs for youth. This includes staffing, safety requirements, supplies, insurance, training, program materials, administrative support, compliance, facility needs, and expanded opportunities for members.
Our goal is to keep programs as affordable and accessible as possible while also ensuring they remain safe, sustainable, and high-quality for the youth and families who rely on them.